Government 'out of step' with public's wish to see coastlines protected

Almost 1,300 people who took part in the first Ocean Literacy Survey, organised by environmental coalition Fair Seas, cited political apathy as the main barrier to protecting Ireland's coasts. Picture: Denis Minihane

The Government is "out of step" with the public's desire to see Ireland's seas and coastlines protected, environmental groups have claimed.

The Fair Seas coalition has presented a petition to Nature and Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan with almost 12,000 signatures urging the Government to publish the long-mooted Marine Protected Areas Bill, which has been going through the legislative process for months.