Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a specific question that has been raised a number of times on the native Irish black bee and the level of protection it has. Are our guests concerned about the impact of the importation of non-native bees on hybridisation as well as the importation of the small hive beetle?

I would appreciate it if the witnesses want to respond in writing to my other question. We have heard how people became closer to nature during the pandemic but we also saw that in America at the time of the new deal as people had more leisure time from their work. Huge mistakes were made around indigenous communities but it saw the creation of wildlife parks and trails and that sort of reconnection with nature. Should the Citizens' Assembly, when it is looking at biodiversity, be looking at that type of project and green new deal that is not in the extractive industries but that will create alternative jobs for rural communities? Should that be part of its terms of reference?