Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The last point is very valid and I say to the Deputy that if he wants to come back to us with his local community group on Cratloe Wood, we are open to initiatives from the community up on biodiversity and in respect of native woodlands in particular. The Government would be very interested in getting behind that idea and developing a project around that. There are many projects across the country, as Deputies will know, where communities are taking the initiative in respect of biodiversity and in restoring flora and fauna and it is something of which I am very strongly supportive.

Deputy Boyd Barrett began the session by raising the issue of marine resources. This is the first Government which has actually provided for a marine spatial plan and it has also provided legislation in respect of the regulatory framework governing the use of our seas. We need more nature reserves. I am not clear what the Deputy is referring to in regard to political interference on designation. I certainly have not seen that. Are his comments made in regard to the present Government as I certainly do not think that that is possible?

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