John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Several people asked that question and I did not get to answer it. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has committed to the extension of the rent freeze and the eviction ban as part of a general check on where we are regarding the crisis. Once that time period elapses at the end of June, he has not given a commitment, but he has said it will be firmly looked at depending on where we are in terms of the point of reopening and recovery.

I acknowledge that it is unlikely that we will be much further advanced in three or four weeks than we are now in the reopening of the economy.

Earlier the Deputy asked about local authorities' role in meeting our targets around emissions, biodiversity and climate generally. One scheme introduced when I was a councillor 20 years ago was the heritage officer scheme. I think Kilkenny was one of the first local authorities to take it up. Green Party policy includes the introduction of biodiversity officers. I am always struck by the amount of land, whether it is in the hands of local authorities, the HSE, the Office of Public Works, Transport Infrastructure Ireland - the thousands of acres in each local authority area - which is not used as productively as it should in terms of biodiversity. I drive through it every time I come up from my constituency, with thousands of acres not used.

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