Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The amendment calls for the inclusion of references to the management of soil carbon and the protection and rewetting of wetlands when I, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, perform functions under section 4. The Deputy may be aware that BirdWatch Ireland is keen to have this amendment included. In the first instance, I fully accept that both the management of soil carbon and the protection and rewetting of wetlands are proven means of maintaining and developing carbon sinks and an important option in reducing the overall carbon footprint of the State. As such, these activities fall under the heading of mitigation policy measures. The Bill, as initiated, makes no reference to a particular mitigation policy measure for good reason, in that the nature and extent of such measures will change over time up to 2050, as successive mitigation measures are taken. For that reason, I do not consider it appropriate to single out this mitigation policy measure for inclusion in the Bill. They more properly belong in the content of national mitigation plans and I look forward to seeing them being included in such plans when specific soil carbon and wetland management measures will be specified.