Ms Oonagh Duggan:

The Deputy is right. Local authorities play a very important part in protecting biodiversity. I know many of them have taken up the pollinator plan and have started to initiate that in their local areas, which is great because it will also help with birds. If places are allowed to let grass grow a bit longer, that will be good for insects and the bird population. It would be great if each local authority had an ecologist who could review planning applications. We find that sometimes there is a gap here that could be filled in terms of the ecological expertise in reviewing planning applications and giving that local advice.