Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Today, the European Court of Justice found Ireland guilty of failing to protect nature, failing to provide legal protection for 217 of 423 sites identified as special areas of conservation, failing to define detailed site-specific conservation objectives for 140 of 423 sites and failing to provide adequate conservation measures. This is an absolute disgrace. It has been ongoing for 20 years. These sites were identified 19 years ago and the Government has had six years to write it into law. The determination today shows that the green credentials of this Government are in tatters. Will the Minister tell me what the Government will do to address these issues and deal with the fact that we are in breach of EU legislation when it comes to protecting nature here?

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