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

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 19, line 20, after “2000,” to insert “the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000,”.

As the House will be aware, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 was enacted in July this year following the restoration of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 from the last Dáil. It facilitates a reconfiguration of the raised bog network, provides for a biodiversity duty on public sector bodies and places the national biodiversity action plans on a statutory footing. I indicated to the Dáil on Report Stage of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 on 5 July this year that further technical changes were required to allow for the titles of Ministers in the Act to be changed. These are required so that this Act can be fully commenced. Under Oireachtas Standing Orders for restored Bills, these could only be accommodated under legislation introduced at a later date. The amendments of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023, now proposed, deal with these old ministerial titles. The wording for the Minister used in the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 is "the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht". This reflects the historic title of the Minister with responsibility for heritage. However, the title of that Minister has changed since the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 was first introduced and the function for heritage has been transferred to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Amendment No. 218 will therefore change the title of the Minister in section 7 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 from "Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht" to "Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage". Amendment No. 217 will remove altogether a reference to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government in section 18A (7)(b) of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, as inserted by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023. This deals with the old ministerial title and also prevents a scenario whereby the Minister could be referring matters to him or herself. Amendments Nos. 1 and 3 will change the Long Title of the Bill to ensure it reflects the fact that it now deals with wildlife legislation, namely, the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023.

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