Dr. Diarmuid Torney:

Deputy Bruton is being very patient and I will not dwell too long. I wish to return to the Cathaoirleach's question about the future generations commissioner that he mentioned earlier. While it is not covered within the scope of volume 4, I recall that the report of this committee in response to the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss made such a proposal. I wish to bring to the attention of the committee that at our annual climate and society conference in DCU last week, we had a speaker, Ella Saltmarshe, who lives in Bristol and who works a lot on the idea of future thinking and future generations and incorporating the perspectives of future generations into the decisions we make today. It is a very interesting and innovative space.

There is the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and other examples in Europe and the world. I am happy to send on further material.