Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill is to provide for a review of raised bog habitats, making amendment and revocation of natural heritage area orders, and for those purposes to amend the Wildlife (Amendment) Act. Natural heritage areas are proposed for designation and de-designation under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

A similar procedure in relation to the designation of special areas of conservation is set out in European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, which provide for the transposition of the EU Habitats Directive into national law. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to provide for a review of raised bogs special areas of conversation in the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016.

In addition, the final national raised bog SAC management plan will set out the approach to how each of the raised bogs special areas of conversation is to be conserved and managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. I expect that this plan will be published early in 2017 subject to the approval of the Government. Therefore, unfortunately, I cannot accept the amendment.