Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Today was an historic day in the European Parliament, where we saw the nature restoration law passed. Unfortunately, it is disappointing that two of our MEPs, one from Sinn Féin and an Independent, voted against it. The reality is that what they are voting against is voting to restore nature and to bring our natural environment back to a point where it is not on the brink of collapse, which is what we are seeing at the moment. Some 81% of habitats in Europe are in poor condition and many of our species are on the verge of extinction. I would like a debate in the Dáil, not only on the nature restoration law and also how the Government will transpose it, but also the biodiversity action plan the Minister recently brought in. Biodiversity and nature do not get enough coverage in the Chamber. Considering the citizens assembly and all of the community support for this, it is an issue that we tend not to address in the Chamber. I would like to see more debate on it and now is a good opportunity to have that.

See this speech in context