European Union Habitats (Porcupine Bank Canyon Special Area of Conservation 003001) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 106 of 2016).

These Regulations designate an area as a Special Areas of Conservation in accordance with Article 4 of European Union s Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The Regulations, among other things: specify in Schedule 3 natural habitat types (in this case reef) and animal and plant species for purposes of the Directive and in order to ensure their conservation (i.e. the measures required to maintain or restore the natural habitats and the populations of species of wild fauna and flora at a favourable status); list in Schedule 4 activities that have potential to cause disturbance or damage to the natural habitat types and animal and plant species specified in Schedule 3 and that require consent of the Minister or, in some circumstances, of another public authority; provide that contravention of the provisions of these Regulations shall constitute an offence. No consent is required for proposed activities that have been authorised as part of an agreed farm or land management plan.