Dr. Mary Dobbs:

I will start from the end question on a senior ministerial position and a stand-alone committee. I would happily support both of these. The recommendation links back again to Deputy Bruton's queries earlier about coherency. On the senior ministerial position in recommendation No. 22. it was to have responsibility for biodiversity and not necessarily entirely stand-alone from others. It could, for instance, be environment, biodiversity and climate change. Likewise one could have a complementary stand-alone committee for that as well or take it on within this committee.

With regard to the question on birds, we should not renege on our own responsibilities. Absolutely 77% is a massive impact. It is very hard to go and change behaviour in another country. We have heard about international developments but we should not forget the EU level. A further recommendation was recommendation No. 12 within the citizens' assembly report that Ireland should provide full support for the nature restoration law. Basically, we should try to drive that at EU level as well. Once it is at the EU level it obviously helps make those changes across all of the EU too.