Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply, but he has again made clear one of the major problems we face, namely, that there is no shortage of supportive rhetoric from the Government but very few results. We are repeatedly told the Government is committed and has passed one of the most ambitious climate action laws in the world. However, we are missing all of our targets. Our emissions are going up. Our rivers and lakes are choked with pollution. Our biodiversity is in crisis. More than half of native plant species are in decline. More than 60% of Ireland's wild bird species are in decline. The failure of successive Governments to address biodiversity loss has left us with little time to reverse it. The time to act is now. I agree with the Minister that farmers know exactly the risks they are facing in terms of biodiversity loss. They know those risks better than anybody. They are constantly underestimated and spoken for as one homogenous group in this Chamber, when that is not the case. Actions will speak louder than words. I return to the question I asked in my first contribution. Will Fianna Fáil MEPs vote for the nature restoration law?

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