Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 5 October 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

EU Nature Restoration Target: COPA-COGECA

Mr. Niall Curley:

I could not tell the Deputy. It is how they decide to fulfil the target. It can be decided that the Sitka spruce or whatever species of fir tree that is planted onto peatlands will be used. When the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is writing this national restoration plan, it can decide whether the Coillte lands will be used for restoration. It is literally down to that, as long as it fulfils the specific restoration targets that are set. Some 70% of all EU agricultural peatlands must be restored by 2050. That does not necessarily mean that 70% of all agricultural peatlands in Ireland is considered under that target.