Competitive MAC Framework – Stakeholder Engagement

Summary

MARA is designing a Framework to underpin the competitive Maritime Area Consent (MAC) process. This stakeholder consultation outlines the design decisions that MARA has identified as preferable and suggests relevant criteria for assessing competitive MACs for the ORE sector in Ireland’s Maritime area.

MARA has determined that the purpose of this ORE competitive MAC is to assist Ireland in pursuing its climate and energy ambitions, whilst benefiting its people and environment. Its primary objective, therefore, at this point in time is the timely delivery of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE). As Ireland begins to deploy ORE in the maritime area, it is recognised that this objective may be refined and the draft Framework will be designed to be flexible in this regard.

MARA appointed Baringa Partners LLP (Baringa) to advise on the design of the Framework. As part of its advice, Baringa carried out an assessment of relevant international seabed allocation processes and criteria used.

How to make a submission

The deadline for making a submission is 30th September 2025 at 5pm.

Please send your submission by email to consultation@mara.gov.ie with the subject line “Competitive MAC Consultation” or by post, with “Competitive MAC Consultation” written on the envelope, to:

Competitive MAC Framework – Stakeholder Engagement Report

Data Protection

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final version of the Competitive MAC Framework.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

Analysis and Publication of responses

All responses received will be shared with a 3rd party company that have been engaged to analyse the contents of submissions.
We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.

Please indicate any sensitive information

In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:

• personal information
• commercially sensitive information
• confidential information

Read our Data Privacy Notice

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice (https://www.maritimeregulator.ie/privacy/) which explains:

• how and when we collect personal data
• why we do so
• how we treat this information
• your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
• how you can exercise those rights