Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In my view, Deputy Fitzmaurice, whom I hold in very high esteem and who introduced this motion, represents his community and constituency very well. I can say the same for the cosponsors of the motion, Deputies McNamara and Harkin. However, with respect to them, I believe they are wrong with this motion. The nature restoration law is not the portent of doom that many portray it as; it is critically necessary legislation whose purpose is to restore nature. The reason is that the destruction of nature is the destruction of ourselves and our communities, including our rural communities, which depend on nature, whether it is through farming, water resources, tourism and so on. I ask respectfully that they withdraw the motion in the interests of their communities and future generations.

I listened to the Sinn Féin speakers, who argued for their amendment. The basic premise of their argument is that the Government's countermotion does not have all the detail they would like it to have. It seems there is not anything they actually disagree with in the Minister's amendment. Am I to take from this that they will then support the Minister's amendment? If they and other Opposition members were to do so, it would send a strong message from Ireland ahead of the plenary vote in the European Parliament that is coming up. If, however, they opt to go against the Government amendment, one with which they do not actually disagree, then they can rightly be rejected as a party that is not serious on this issue, one that is playing politics and is seeking to run with the hare and hunt with the hound.

I urge colleagues to support the amendment moved by the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and to support the development of the nature restoration regulation, which both protects nature and ensures that the future viability of Irish farming and rural communities is assured.

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