Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is a Government amendment to put Ireland's national biodiversity plans on a statutory footing and create a public duty in respect of biodiversity for public bodies.

The amendment introduces a new Part to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and new sections 59A to 59H. The proposal to introduce such an amendment was approved by the

Seanad without a vote. Under the amendment, the Minister will be required to publish a national biodiversity action plan and guidelines every three to five years. The legislation proposes that every public body, as listed in the proposed amendment, will be obliged, in the performance of its functions, to have regard to a plan, programme or strategy; the objectives and targets in a national biodiversity action plan; and practical guidelines from the Minister in relation to a plan, programme or strategy relating to biodiversity. Every listed public body will be required to prepare and submit to the Minister a report specifying the measures that the public body has adopted for the purposes of compliance by that public body with the obligation, and the progress made by the public body in the performance of its functions in respect of the obligation. In addition, a listed public body must comply with a direction given by the Minister in respect of these matters.

Amendment No. 16 is a technical amendment to the Long Title of the Bill to reflect the fact that the Bill deals with issues concerning biodiversity. It arises from amendment No. 12 made by the Seanad.

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