17.—(1) Where the Minister considers that a particular species, or particular species, of F39[either or both fauna and flora] should be specially protected on any land which is, or is contiguous to, a habitat of the species, F40[or that land has features of the landscape which are of major importance for wild flora and fauna including birds, which include those features which by virtue of:

(a) their linear and continuous structure, such as rivers or canals with their banks or the traditional systems of marking field boundaries, or

(b) their function as stepping stones, such as ponds or small woods,

are essential for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species, for the purposes of the Habitats Directive or the Birds Directive,] then, subject to subsection (5) of this section, he may publish in the Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land is situate a notice of his intention to make an order (in this Act referred to as a designation order) designating the land as a refuge for such F39[fauna and flora].

(2) Before publishing a notice pursuant to this section, the Minister shall—

(a) consult the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, the Minister for Transport and Power, the Commissioners and any planning authority in whose area the land to which the notice relates, or any part of such land, is situate, and

(b) serve on the owner or occupier of such land notice of the particulars to be contained in the notice he proposes to so publish.

(3) Where the Minister proposes to amend a designation order he shall publish in the Iris Oifigiúil and in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land to which the designation order applies is situate a notice of his intention to do so.

(4) A notice published pursuant to this section shall indicate F41[every species of fauna and flora] which the Minister proposes by the provisions of the proposed order to which the notice relates to protect, the land to which the proposed designation order or amending order, as the case may be, will apply and the protective measures which he proposes to include in the proposed order, including any measures he proposes to take for the protection of the habitat requirements of such F41[fauna and flora].

(5) The Minister shall not include in a notice published pursuant to this section any reference to a species of fish or aquatic invertebrate animal without the prior concurrence of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.

(6) Not later than two months after publication in the Iris Oifigiúil pursuant to subsection (1) of this section of a notice, the occupier of any land to which the notice relates, or any person claiming to have or to be entitled to an interest in or over the land or part thereof, who objects to the making of the proposed order on the grounds that it will interfere with such interest, may give, in the manner specified in the said notice, notice to the Minister giving particulars of the claim, and if he does so, shall furnish to the Minister with the notice particulars of the grounds of objection.

(7) Any person, other than a person mentioned in subsection (6) of this section or a planning authority, who claims that the making of a proposed order to which a notice published pursuant to this section relates would, if made, be detrimental to him may, not later than two months after the publication of the notice in the Iris Oifigiúil, give notice in writing giving particulars of his claim to the Minister and, if he does so, shall furnish to the Minister with the notice particulars of the grounds of objection.

(8) The planning authority within whose area is situate the land, or any part thereof, to which a proposed order under this section will, if made, relate, may, if they object to the proposal, not later than two months after the publication in the Iris Oifigiúil pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, give notice in writing to that effect to the Minister and, if they do so, they shall furnish to the Minister with the notice particulars of the grounds of objection.

(9) The Minister, after considering any objection duly made in relation to a proposed designation order or to a proposed amendment of a designation order, may if he thinks fit, make in relation to the land specified in the notice published pursuant to this section or any part of such land whichever of the following is appropriate having regard to the terms of the notice:

(a) a designation order designating that land, or any part thereof, as, and establishing thereon, a refuge for all or any of the fauna F42[or flora] indicated in the notice, or

(b) an appropriate order under section 8 of this Act amending a designation order,

and the order may include such provisions as the Minister thinks fit which relate to protective measures so specified.

(10) Subject to subsection (12) of this section, a person who has an interest in or over land specified in a notice published pursuant to this section shall be entitled to be paid compensation by the Minister in respect of any diminution in the value of his interest in or over the land consequent upon the making of the order to which the notice relates and any claim for payment of compensation shall, in default of agreement, be determined by arbitration under the Act of 1919, as amended by subsequent enactments, in all respects as if the claim arose in relation to compulsory acquisition of land.

(11) Subject to subsection (12) of this section, any person other than a person mentioned in subsection (10) of this section who, in consequence of the making of an order under this section, has had to incur expense or who has suffered financial loss or any inconvenience or other disadvantage shall be entitled to be paid by the Minister such amount (if any) of compensation as the Minister considers is reasonable.

(12) Any compensation under this section shall be assessed and payable only in respect of diminution in value, loss or disadvantage arising from the measures contained in the relevant order for the protection of the habitat requirements of the fauna F43[or flora] to which the order relates.

(13) The Minister shall not revoke a designation order unless he considers that it is no longer practicable or is no longer desirable to maintain the refuge established by the order.

(14) The Minister shall, as soon as may be after it is made, cause a copy of an order under this section to be sent to the Commissioners, to the Board and to any planning authority within whose area the land to which the order relates, or any part of such land, is situate.

(15) Any person who contravenes a designation order shall be guilty of an offence.