Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let us be very clear. The only way planners are going to be able to comply with that duty under the biodiversity action plan is if we set out very clearly how they are to do so. Some of that will be in legislation, guidelines and so on. The same point as was made in the conversation we had yesterday on section 52 guidelines and the national planning framework will have to apply. It is all very well to have a duty but, if we do not set out in statute and secondary legislation how each individual section of our public sector is to address it, that duty is less likely to be adhered to. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment and look forward to seeing what he comes back with.