Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her questions. I will ask my officials to come in with more specifics but legislation is indeed required. In tandem with that, it is the intention of the NPWS to establish an ad hocgroup to bring together a stakeholder forum to look at the elements of the ratification and implementation of the protocol. As for a timeline for all this, we are probably looking at between 12 and 18 months to move through that process. All of this is in train within the Department, as I said. There have been many priorities, as the Deputy is aware, around biodiversity. I thank her for her comments on COP15. It was important Ireland was represented and we had a fantastic delegation there and certainly a very good outcome, generally, from the COP. We are moving in line, I think. On the legislative element of it, it is our intention over the next 12 and 18 months to establish an ad hocgroup and bring together stakeholders. There are many in this area, from pharma to the National Botanic Gardens and many others, with an interest in this that we wish to bring together to move on its implementation. I ask Mr. Moore to come in to elaborate on that.