Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as an deis labhairt faoin rud seo. We are probably entering a period where awareness is increasing radically throughout society with regard to what is actually happening to the ecosystem which we all share. Programmes such as "Blue Planet" have really brought to people's attention that the range of species throughout the world is collapsing at a radical rate. We even see that in our country. The Minister has mentioned that the objective of the State is the protection of our natural heritage. However, the protection of our national heritage has not been successful so far. It is not just me who is saying so. With every generation the range of species is collapsing and is in freefall. There is no doubt that we are on the wrong course currently. We are not passive observers; the Government has a role in this.

By reducing the habitat in which species live throughout their lifecycle, we then reduce the opportunity for that species to live. People have major problems with the Government giving the go-ahead for the physical habitat to be reduced at key periods for these different species.

I understand the logic to part of the objective the Government is trying to achieve and I grant that the Government is not doing this out of recklessness. The Government has regard to road safety concerns and other Deputies will also have road safety issues. About three months after the Bill had been published I contacted the Road Safety Authority and asked if the Department had contacted it with regard to this road safety issue and was told that had not happened. I then contacted the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - one would figure that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport would be partners on this matter - but it had not been contacted about the Bill. In other words the drafting of the Bill as published had not been done in partnership with the Road Safety Authority, whatever about any contact after that.

I believe we can achieve both objectives - the objective of road safety and the objective of ensuring we do not reduce the habitat in which species already under threat exist. One way to do that is to balance the two objectives, which is what I have sought to do in amendment No. 21. I have sought to balance the agricultural needs and the safety needs with the environmental needs.

I know that some Members who have tabled amendments, including Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, cannot attend this particular meeting. Would it be possible for amendment No. 23 to be discussed on Report Stage?