35.— The Act of 2000 is amended by substituting the following section for section 177AB (inserted by section 57 of the Act of 2010):

“177AB.— (1)(a) Where the Minister receives a statement of case under section 177AA(1) relating to a European site that does not host a priority habitat type or priority species, he or she shall as soon as possible request the views of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as to whether the compensatory measures are sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected.

(b) Following receipt of the views of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Minister may enter into consultations with the competent authority, who having consulted with the applicant for consent for the proposed development, may submit to the Minister a modified proposal for the development, modified proposed conditions to be attached to the proposed development or modified or alternative proposed compensatory measures.

(c) The Minister may enter into consultations with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and further consultations with the competent authority in relation to the proposal for the development or any modified proposal for the development, the proposed conditions or any modified proposed conditions to be attached to the proposed development and the compensatory measures or any alternative proposed compensatory measures.

(2) The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as soon as possible after the request of the Minister for views under subsection (1)(a) or, as the case may be, the completion of consultations with the Minister under subsection (1)(c), shall furnish an opinion to the Minister as to whether the compensatory measures or modified or alternative proposed compensatory measures, as the case may be, are sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected.

(3) Where the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has furnished an opinion that the compensatory measures, or revised or modified compensatory measures, as the case may be, are sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected, the Minister as soon as possible following the receipt of the opinion, shall issue a notice to this effect to the competent authority and the competent authority may decide to grant consent for the proposed development with or without conditions.

(4) Where the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has furnished an opinion that the compensatory measures, or revised or modified compensatory measures, as the case may be, are not sufficient to ensure that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected, the Minister as soon as possible following the receipt of the opinion shall issue a notice to this effect to the competent authority and the competent authority shall not grant consent for the proposed development.

(5) Where the Minister issues a notice under subsection (3) he or she shall inform the Commission of the matter, including the compensatory measures proposed.

(6) The competent authority shall make available for inspection by members of the public during office hours at the office of the authority, and may also publish on the internet a notice issued to the authority under subsection (3) or (4).”.