Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, is responsible for implementing the Wildlife Act 2018, the primary legislation underpinning the protection of biodiversity and nature in Ireland. The Wildlife Act 2018 affords protection to a range of habitats and species and provides for regulation and control of activities that impinge on biodiversity, such as hunting and trade.

The legislative framework in place to protect biodiversity is further strengthened by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, which also fall under the remit of my Department. These regulations transpose the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive into national law and provide for protection of certain habitats and species across the European Union and give a framework for specific measures to be taken to target areas of concern in each member state. The main instruments provided for are the designation of special protection areas, SPA, aimed at the protection of threatened species of birds and special areas of conservation, SAC, aimed at protecting other animal species and habitats.

My Department is also responsible for developing and publishing Ireland's national biodiversity action plan. The most recent plan, Ireland's third, was published in October 2017 and contains a range of actions to protect and conserve biodiversity, including measures to restore and conserve habitats and protect vulnerable species.

The NPWS, working together with national experts and colleagues in Northern Ireland, produces regional red lists for the island of Ireland. Red lists are published on an irregular basis as datasets and the necessary national expertise for taxonomic groups become available.

In addition, threat response plans are being prepared by NPWS as part of Ireland's response to the judgment of the European Court of Justice in case C-183/05 and the requirement to establish a system of strict protection for species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive.

These plans provide detailed information on range, distribution and habitat. They also focus on the particular threats facing each species and identify the measures required to address these threats, as well as identifying who is responsible for implementing them and providing a timeframe for delivery.

The NPWS will continue to monitor and assess the status of vulnerable species in Ireland and takes into consideration any appropriate responses possible within their remit and the resources available to the Department, including specific schemes to address particular threatened species.

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