Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said, we support the European Green Deal and, in principle, the EU nature restoration law. I think all of us want to see nature restored, an end to biodiversity loss and the restoration of biodiversity across our country. There are, however, aspects of this that are very ambitious and go too far, in my view. We are carrying out a national impact assessment so we are developing a position on the EU nature restoration law. It is being led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service but is cross-government. An interdepartmental group has been established, as has a senior officials group, and there will be a memo to the Cabinet very soon setting out the Government's position on it. Of course we will have regard to the impact on farmers, farm families and rural communities, particularly down the western seaboard. I appreciate the concerns the Deputy has raised in that regard.

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