25th September 2025
from left:Ms Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights, Mr Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Marine Environment. Ms Laura Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority
The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) and Commissioners of Irish Lights (IL) have signed a landmark cooperation agreement designed to enhance the effectiveness of their regulatory responsibilities within Ireland’s Maritime Area. The agreement represents the first of its kind for MARA and sets out a framework for closer collaboration between the two authorities.
Through the agreement, the regulators will establish clear pathways for the sharing of information and data, enabling more informed and coordinated decision-making. It also provides for the pooling of technical knowledge, expertise, and resources, which will strengthen each organisation’s ability to respond to challenges and carry out its mandate effectively. By working together, the regulators aim to ensure that oversight is delivered in a consistent, transparent, and efficient manner, fostering greater confidence among stakeholders and the public.
Commenting on the co-operation agreement, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Marine Environment , Timmy Dooley, said:
“I warmly welcome today’s signing of MARA’s first cooperation agreement with Irish Lights. This partnership strengthens our shared commitment to safe navigation and sustainable management of Ireland’s maritime area. By working together, we can better support innovation, environmental stewardship and marine safety. Today marks an important milestone in delivering for our coastal communities and the wider maritime sector and as Minister with responsibility for maritime affairs, I am pleased to highlight our Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of Ireland’s blue economy.”
Commenting on the signing, Laura Brien, CEO of MARA said:
“This agreement is a significant milestone for MARA. As our first formal cooperation agreement with another regulatory body, it demonstrates our commitment to building strong partnerships and ensuring our regulatory responsibilities are delivered to the highest standard. We look forward to our collaborative work with Irish Lights for the benefit of Ireland’s maritime area.
MARA has a critical role to play in the protection of Ireland’s maritime area for the future and within our Statement of Strategy we highlighted the importance of cooperation. This partnership includes provisions for cooperation on regulatory processes, sharing of resources and data that will support the continued development of both organisations to the benefit of the maritime area.”
Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights said at the signing:
"Ireland’s maritime area is seven times the size of its landmass, and supports critical economic activities including shipping, ports, fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and renewable offshore energy. In addition, our marine resource supports our well-being, environment, natural and built heritage and biodiversity. Irish Lights regulates lighting and marking of infrastructure at sea ensuring the safe movement of vessels and people around our coasts, protecting lives, trade, property and the environment. Our work is closely aligned with the remit of MARA to support Marine Spatial Planning ensuring that our seas remain safe, productive, and sustainable. These goals closely also align with the global regulatory framework for safety at sea, underpinned by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the standards set by the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA). With increasing pressures on our marine space, strong collaboration between stakeholders is essential to ensure consistency and to avoid duplication of effort”.
from left:Mr Eoin Leahy, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, Ms Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights, Mr Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with special responsibility for the Marine Environment, Ms Laura Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, Mr Ronan Boyle, Director of Navigation, Maritime & Consenting, Irish Lights
By formalising this partnership, MARA and Irish Lights will be able to continue to use their combined expertise and resources to better serve Ireland’s maritime community. The agreement will help generate efficiencies in how regulatory and statutory functions are carried out, while ensuring the highest standards of navigation safety and environmental protection.
Signed under Section 65 of the MAP Act 2021, the Cooperation Agreement formalises how MARA and Irish Lights will work together. The agreement focuses on:
- Information and Data Sharing: Ensuring that both organisations can share information efficiently to support safe navigation and sound regulation.
- Resource Sharing: Making the best use of specialist resources, including Irish Lights’ vessel ILV Granuaile, to deliver statutory functions in a cost-effective way.
- Regulatory Cooperation: Avoiding duplication of activities by agreeing where one organisation will take the lead, while the other supports, to streamline processes for marine users.
- Consistency in Decision-Making: Coordinating regulatory and safety decisions to provide clarity and certainty for all who use the maritime area.
The cooperation agreement reflects both organisations’ shared vision of promoting best practice, advancing regulatory excellence, and safeguarding the sectors under their supervision.
