Mr. Richard Cronin:

We identified that issue in respect of the climate action plan 2022, so in respect of the 2023 plan, the particular piece of work highlighted by Dr. Ó Cadhla involved how much is there and what the potential is. It is a simple question but one we do not know the answer to. It is a very important question to ask and get an answer to. If we look at what Deputy O'Callaghan highlighted in his intervention, it is a question of how much we protect and where we apply that protection. Those answers need to come to us so we can protect these habitats effectively. You then see where marine protection, biodiversity and climate mitigation all flow into one space. If you create the right spatial designation under this proposed general scheme, you will have a climate regulating benefit through carbon storage and a biodiversity benefit. These carbon habitats are very rich in biodiversity. All those things will flow into one space. It has been identified and we are working on it through the climate action plan as an action.