Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two short questions. I ask Mr. Joyce and Ms Jones if, from their experience of having been on the citizens’ assembly, they have changed their approach or what was the long-lasting impact of this, apart from the fact that they are so well informed on the issue of the biodiversity crisis. Have they extended that knowledge out to family members as it would be very interesting to learn of the ripple effect from their experience on the assembly?

My second question, to build on that, is to ask around the media’s responsibility which we were discussing and also those public awareness campaigns? I agree 100% that we need to be informing people around what biodiversity is, why we need to protect it and how people can protect it. One of the issues which I have raised in the Seanad before is that we do not have a great amount of time. It is about greater regulation on pesticides, rodenticides, metaldehyde and all of these chemicals where one can walk in quite freely, even into discount stores, and buy. Many members of the public are not aware that by putting down slug pellets, not only is one killing the slugs but one is also killing the hedgehogs, family pets and water life. Would our guests agree that we need to take a stronger and more regulatory role, certainly with respect to the public’s access to these chemicals?

Agriculture is a separate ballgame and that would have to be teased out but it should not be easy for the public to go in and perhaps our guests have changed that habit resulting from their experience on the citizens’ assembly.