Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is well accepted that this cannot be solved through legislation alone, but the legislation will have to show leadership, as will all of us in this House. While I know issues of biodiversity are somewhat outside the Minister's sphere of influence, the declaration of this House was significant in asserting a biodiversity emergency and in calling for a citizens' assembly to address the equally disturbing ecological crisis. A major global assessment recently found that ecosystems are rapidly declining and that 1 million species are at risk of extinction, including several species native to Ireland. The necessity for a citizens' assembly to examine this crisis is a reflection of the failure of the Government to integrate biodiversity protections adequately into our policymaking.

I hope that can be achieved and such a discussion can take place in a citizens' assembly. That, of course, will require the Government to ask for that to happen.

How will the Government amend departmental strategies, increase investment in habitat conservation and protection and ensure that necessary resources are made available to relevant State agencies? While it is not in the Minister's sphere of influence, he might be able to pass it on to the relevant Minister, noting that it is part of the wider climate change issue. I know the Minister has ongoing dialogue with other Departments in that regard.

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