Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 21 November 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Brian LeddinBrian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Dr. Ó Cinnéide, for your opening statement and for linking it back to the sessions we have had so far. That is very helpful for us. I will invite members to indicate to ask questions. I remind members that we have to adjourn the meeting at 12.15 p.m. to allow the next session to start so I will move it along as quickly as possible.

Dr. Ó Cinnéide referred to recommendations Nos. 116 and 120 of the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss with respect to the remits of Coillte and Bord na Móna. It was suggested that they should be assessed such that their objectives align with the great climate and biodiversity challenges we face. I want to put something to Mr. O'Donnell with respect to Inland Fisheries Ireland. You guys work hand in glove with ESB on the rivers. I am very familiar with the lower Shannon. Ardnacrusha power station is only a couple of kilometres up the river from where I live. I know that part of the Shannon intimately. There are challenges around fish and habitat protection there. I do not think it is in the citizens' assembly report, but would Mr. O'Donnell agree there is a commercial mandate there for the ESB which has been there for a long time? Should its mandate be tweaked such that biodiversity protection and habitat restoration are front and centre as well?