Mr. Richard Cronin:

I think the 30% target at this point in the text is a target for us to reach in regard to what we believe is the commitment, and it may be the case in the future that that target is changed. As to whether there is a legal implication for us, at the moment there is not. It is a biodiversity strategy of the European Union, it is a policy commitment founded on scientific evidence and it is in the programme for Government. It is also part of the agreement for the post-2020 framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Looking into the future and the development of the European Union nature restoration regulation, these targets will potentially become binding in the next year or two.

We will end up looking at firmer and firmer targets.

The Deputy asked whether designations under head 7 could be time limited.