Dr. Anita Donaghy:

I wish to comment on that. The birds directive has certainly been very important in protecting annex I species and creating the special protection areas, SPAs. The annex I species are those particularly important species recognised at European level. The designation of the SPA network, the Natura 2000 network and the special areas of conservation, SACs, has been extremely important in Ireland and has really protected some of our key hotspots. The birds directive has been incredibly important in that respect.

One problem is that species of national importance are not addressed through the birds directive. That is a massive gap. I refer to the lapwing, the curlew, the redshank and other species on the red list of birds of conservation concern in Ireland. They have been identified by the Government as priorities in the prioritised action framework. However, because they are not annex I species no special sites have been designated for them. That is one of the reasons these species are hugely declining. They are among the most rapidly declining of all our breeding birds. Without any system to designate sites for species that are nationally important, rather than just internationally important, we will continue to face the loss of farmland species in particular, such as the lapwing, curlew and redshank. Sites have not been designated for these species even thought the Government recognises they are a very high priority. That has been a failing of the birds directive. Does Ms Duggan wish to add anything?