Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

This detailed discussion shows we need to play a role in scrutiny. Legally, this is an Oireachtas-made plan so we have a responsibility as Members of the Oireachtas. I appreciate the significant work done by the Department on it.

I appreciate there are two sides to this, the temporal and the spatial elements. On the spatial side, does the plan include mapping out of the areas that need to be protected for whales so that we can sustain and indeed increase our whale population, which has a key role in environmental sustainability and carbon dioxide capture? Does the plan include mapping for dolphins or migratory bird paths, which are incredibly important as part of biodiversity?