Mr. Peter Carvill:

The interaction goes to the highest level. As the Chairman will be aware, the National Parks and Wildlife Service was part of the then Department of the Environment and much of the legislative work that was done on the Planning Acts and on the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 was done in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Much of the drafting of the 2011 regulations was done by the Department before the parks and wildlife section was transferred to the new Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The very strong links that existed and which were built up when we were in the same Department remain. The contacts at all levels in the Department have been sustained and there is a very good working relationship between the two Departments.