Ireland’s energy and digital progress hampered by red tape – Geoghegan

Major delays to decisions on subsea infrastructure are preventing urgent upgrades from happening, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy James Geoghegan has criticised the pace of decision-making at the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), warning that vital subsea infrastructure projects are being caught in a “bureaucratic bottleneck” just as Ireland’s energy and tech sectors demand rapid expansion.

From information provided to the Dublin Bay South TD, several Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications—some involving ESB and Amazon—have been under assessment for up to 12 months, well beyond the 90-day statutory window set out in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, once all requirements have been met.

Deputy Geoghegan said “We cannot afford to let Ireland’s energy and digital future be delayed by administrative inertia. These are the arteries of a modern, secure, connected economy. MARA must deliver timely decisions, and if it lacks the resources to do so, the Minister must act—urgently.

“Among the delayed applications are subsea fibre-optic cables to Wales, power cables for offshore wind, and marine surveys by EirGrid—all key to Ireland’s green and digital ambitions. The delays range from 30 to 270 days beyond the 90-day benchmark, depending on the application.

“The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien, has acknowledged capacity issues and confirmed that MARA is seeking approval to expand its staffing. While I welcome this, it is no substitute for accountability and urgency.

“We must also acknowledge the national strategic implications of Ireland’s subsea infrastructure, with there being both energy and cyber-security risks.

“Subsea infrastructure is no longer just about cables and kilowatts—it’s about sovereignty, resilience, and global competitiveness. Ireland must treat it that way.”