Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before I call on Senator Keane, I want to say that Deputy Coffey reminded me of laethanta scoile siar sna hochtóidí. I remember my second class teacher showing nature slides on an old projector when nature study was part of the curriculum. That was the last time I saw or heard of the pygmy shrew. Nature study was an important part of the curriculum. The comment made with regard to perception is dead right. Some people view environmental data as an impediment to development. If that is the basis on which they look at biodiversity or the world of nature, we are on a hiding to nothing. It is difficult to bring any positivity to that perspective, not to mind provide an information stream.

I recall my grandparents talking about the corncrake and how rare he was getting at that stage. The terminology - biodiversity, nature - was a very important part of the primary school curriculum. As we look back, we realise what we have missed. I wanted to put that on the record, along with our appreciation for Dr. Lysaght's own organisation in helping us to maintain what is a very valuable and finite resource, but which is also playing an important role in our recovery, which is driven largely by the tourism industry. Tourism cannot be dispensed from a machine; it is there naturally and it is what is bringing people to our country.