Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the meeting. I had a high expectation that he would drop in at some stage, given his commitment to the NPWS and to nature in general.

I thank Mr. Ó Donnchú for his invitation. Many of us would be willing to take him up on it. I recently visited the Coole Park bird breeding sanctuary with the Minister of State. Mr. Ó Donnchú is right that it is only when one is out there in the field, taking in the sights, sounds and smells, that one realises the extent of the work being done by the NPWS. Nature is all around us. It is not something that can be picked up from a book or watched on a television screen. It is good for the soul to get out in nature. We will take him up on his offer.

The first speaker on my list is Deputy Flaherty. However, as he has business in the Dáil Chamber, I go first to Deputy Gould.