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

I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Hourigan asked about progress on geothermal energy. I am familiar with one or two proposals in the south west of Dublin, which have been around for a long time, about 15 or 20 years. They are interesting and exciting. I do not know enough about the technology to know to what extent they are viable but the Deputy is correct in saying that we need to have a policy framework. I am not sure what the timeline for that is but I will check with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and get back to Deputy Hourigan as soon as I can.

On the nature law, despite the existence of habitats and birds directives for several decades, the EU, including Ireland, continues to see an alarming loss of biodiversity. The nature law is all about arresting and reversing it. Consideration of draft regulations is continuing at the moment. As Deputies will know, there are different proposals. There is the European Commission proposal, the European Council proposal which has just been adopted, and a draft proposal at the European Parliament, which it has not yet adopted. There will be a trilogue. I support the Council proposal, which was agreed by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, yesterday. I believe it is realistic in its targets, flexibilities and compensation that will be provided to landowners.

It is particularly significant that the Council proposal yesterday allows for the fact that when it comes to renewable energy, the installation, grid, wires and so on will be considered imperative reasons of overriding public interest, IROPI, and effectively exempt from the nature law. That totally proves that those who said there was not a conflict between renewable energy and climate action and the Parliament's proposal got it wrong, whether it was MEP, Mr. Wallace, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, or others. That provision would not be in the Council proposal adopted yesterday if there were not genuine concerns about how an overly restrictive nature law could impact on climate action and renewables. I am glad to see that in the Council proposal yesterday. It now goes into trilogue. As a Government, we support what was agreed yesterday.

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