Dr. Humberto Delgado Rosa:

I thank the Deputy for the question. Favourable conservation status would apply to peatlands and bogs that are protected habitats. I have referred to a couple of them. In that regard, we have no evidence that favourable conservation status will ever be unachievable. We do have points and baselines, including reports from Ireland itself and the other member states, in this regard and for these areas we can expect favourable conservation status to be obtained in the long run.

Turning to the non-protected areas, this is about changing the conditions so as to have some restoration of the peatland itself with climate and biodiversity benefits. We are not, for the non-protected ones, aiming to obtain what would be called favourable conservation status. There is this fundamental difference. The level of restoration and rewetting and climate benefits will have to be defined by the member states themselves. As I said, I do believe Ireland already has plans to rewet, irrespective of the nature restoration law, that would take into account the needs of restoring peatland for planning purposes.