SSE plc

Lobbying Organisation SSE plc

Date published 21 Jan, 2019

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 Sep, 2018 to 31 Dec, 2018

Specific Details Consultation response and consultation events on National Marine Planning Framework.

Intended results To outline SSE's position on the development of a Marine Spatial Planning Framework (MSPF) for Ireland. Issues highlighted by SSE included the importance of ensuring Ireland's Marine Spatial Plan facilitates the sustainable development of Ireland's offshore wind energy capacity. A marine spatial planning framework can help pave the way for the development of offshore wind by providing a decision making framework for public bodies involved in consenting for marine development activities. SSE highlighted the value of adopting an open, policy based approach to marine development. SSE also recommended that Ireland's Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) include a presumption in favour of offshore renewables where appropriate, similar to that included in the Northern Ireland MSP.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Lisa Fahy, Marian Troy

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Event / Reception (2-5)

In addition to submitting a consultation response, Marian Troy, Head of Corporate Affairs for SSE Ireland, spoke at separate Public Consultation Events hosted by Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) at locations in Waterford and Galway. At these events, one of which was attended by Minister Damien English (DHPLG), Marian Troy outlined SSE's position on the development of a Marine Spatial Planning Framework (MSPF) for Ireland.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Eoghan Murphy Minister (Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government)

Damien English Minister of State (Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government)