Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Dr. Lynn for her opening statement, much of which focused on future plans and developments. I will ask about the current state of affairs. We keep hearing one word, that is, "implementation", and we have heard at various stages about the resourcing of the NPWS. Is the NPWS adequately resourced given the impending extension of its mandate and the types of new and complex planning applications that will be submitted? Does Dr. Lynn envisage that its role will change in the time ahead?

On 2 June, this committee heard from the European Commissioner for Energy. There is a clear stated policy to fast-track planning for renewables projects and perhaps there is a rationale for doing so. Is Dr. Lynn concerned about that policy's potential implications for biodiversity? What needs to be done to ensure we get the best results possible?

I ask Dr. Lynn to reflect on the current state of our inland waterways and rivers.

I know we will have targets in future. However, Ireland has been going completely in the wrong direction as I understand it. I ask Dr. Lynn to give her thoughts on how we might address that.