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

Targets are necessary. Some 14% of our land is already designated, which is quite substantial. We have 440 SACs, 150 NHAs and 154 SPAs. One quickly gets used to anagrams in this Department. We will look at the EU targets. It is recognised that in order to meet the needs of the EU strategy at least €20 billion per year should be unlocked for spending on nature and that a significant proportion of the 25% of the EU budget dedicated to climate action will be invested in biodiversity and nature-based solutions. We should ensure that we maximise these opportunities to increase the resilience of biodiversity to climate change. My officials are still examining the contents of the EU strategy. We are liaising with other key Departments in that regard. I very much welcome any engagement with the Deputy on these matters. We are in the process of developing a strong set of positions on nature and biodiversity that will feed into the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework which is due to be adopted at a meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity next year.

That should be of assistance.

One of the things we have written into the programme for Government is that a baseline biodiversity study will be conducted in respect of every farm in order that we might inform future policy development. There are many other areas referenced in the context of reviewing natural heritage protections, including hedgerows. We have committed to establishing a citizens’ assembly on biodiversity within 100 days of a new Government being formed. We have also committed to promoting biodiversity in primary schools, post-primary schools and at third level, and to ensuring that schools, colleges and universities play an active role in providing areas to promote biodiversity. We have also committed to supporting biodiversity data collection and to publishing the new pollinator plan.

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