Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the question from Deputy Michael Collins, I have always said that the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is a stain on Irish society, as is the fact that there has not been a resolution of the case.. Our thoughts are with the du Plantier family, particularly in view of the trauma they continue to go through as a result of the unresolved nature of this case. However, the Government cannot intervene with An Garda Síochána with regard to the cold case review that is under way. It would be inappropriate for the Government to ever involve itself in any crime investigation. This is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and that has to be the position.

I am a bit confused by Deputy McNamara's contribution. We are satisfied that the nature restoration law can be done out to 2030 and 2040 utilising State-owned land in terms of restoring nature. It needs to be restored on land, in the marine environment and in urban areas. Everybody talks about rural areas but nature must also be restored in urban areas.. That is why I said State agencies, Bus Connects and the NTA cannot state that they are going to take a slice of an amenity or a public park and use it for a transport corridor. They cannot do this so we need a change of mindset. We need to restore biodiversity. We are losing it too rapidly. One part of carbon tax revenue goes towards funding farmers who are improving environmental standards. I would envisage that in the future we should pay farmers as guardians of our biodiversity and our landscape. We already do this in the context of some schemes, but we need to expand it and provide alternatives that would facilitate native woodlands being brought back. It can be done. A new ombudsman will be appointed as a result of legislation brought in by the Government and championed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will look at pricing issues and transparency. This legislation will provide far greater price transparency in terms of products.

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