Dr. Andy Bleasdale:

I am the lead official in the NPWS with responsibility for the co-ordination and agreement of the national biodiversity action plan for Ireland as part of an NPWS team, which includes those who are here with me. I am joined by colleagues, Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, director general of the NPWS; Ms Ciara Carberry, head of the nature conservation directorate of the NPWS; and Dr. Deirdre Lynn and Dr. Claire Cooper from the scientific advice and research directorate of the NPWS. We have prepared a written statement to accompany a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, which will animate some of the points made in the statement. I am not sure if the presentation can be made in the committee but I will continue in any event.

The NPWS is an executive agency of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage tasked with providing scientific advice relating to nature conservation, including undertaking extensive habitat and species surveys; the designation of protected areas; the management of national parks and nature reserves; the implementation of conservation measures; safeguarding biodiversity; the enforcement of biodiversity legislation; and engagement across government, with the European Union, at global level and with wider society on biodiversity. The structure of the NPWS is presented in the slide schematic. Ms Carberry and I are the two NPWS directors for nature conservation and for scientific advice and research, respectively. Can members see the slide?