Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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The Committee on Public Petitions has discussed the technical side of the nature restoration target over the past month or so. A chap attended that committee to highlight the problem of the widespread use of pesticides in public areas by local authorities and others. Now the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine spoke to us about sustainable use and stipulates that pesticides should not be used in areas used by the general public unless, one, a risk assessment shows that their use is necessary and, second, that appropriate risk management measures have been put in place. Many councils have tried non-chemical alternatives. The Department's monitoring regime in terms of adherence to the sustainable use directive was less than rigorous. Now we know the effect that these substances have on wildlife and water sports how will the nature restoration target, if enacted, address the problem?