Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will keep this short. I have no issue if the Minister of State comes to Report Stage with measures to improve this Bill and these provisions to bring them into line with the national biodiversity action plan. That is great and I am very supportive of that. That does not mean that the wording I proposed cannot be adopted now. There is an absolute omission in the Bill. There are no strong measures here. There is no mention of biodiversity in section 19(2). There is a passing mention in section 19(3), but no mention in section 19(2). My wording is very clear about supporting the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. From everything the Minister of State said and, indeed, all the work he has done in this area, I do not see how he could be opposed to that wording. Why not accept this amendment and then come along on Report Stage with the extra amendments and provisions to give full effect to the national biodiversity action plan? Nothing the Minister of State said has made me clear on the case as to why my amendment should not be accepted now, notwithstanding that he wants to do further things to incorporate biodiversity into the Bill.