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

I will try to touch on some of the points raised. I really appreciate the contributions of all the Deputies this afternoon. I agree with Deputy Connolly. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to debate the issue. For National Biodiversity Day perhaps the Business Committee could look at having a broader debate on these issues. In this term of the Dáil, it is encouraging that we have had such an intense level of debate on nature. It is only right that we do so but we should try to take up that other opportunity as well.

Quite a number of Deputies, including Deputy Bruton, raised the issue of the referendum and the work of the expert group. There will be transparency around the group concerning the terms of reference and so on. It is not a foregone conclusion that the work of the group will lead to a referendum. I agree with Deputy Bruton's point that it will not be the panacea for all the issues affecting biodiversity. The recommendation is there and we are moving on it. We are beginning to have conversations about its establishment.

Deputy Murphy raised the point regarding the "in progress" piece and making a statement that 80% of the recommendations are in progress. It is the case that many of them may only have been touched on or started or are in some way out of the starting blocks but by no means does it mean that we are well on our way to implementing such a varied, interactive and complex set of recommendations from the assemblies and within the NBAP as well.

A number of general comments were made about protecting farm livelihoods and breaking down silos by working with the farming community. One thing I found over the past number of years from visiting projects, be they the EIP projects or the LIFE projects such as LIFE on Machair or the LIFE Atlantic Crex and the farm plans I routinely visit across the country, is that many farmers are just getting on with it. They love to be involved in schemes. When we advertise these schemes, the halls are full on the information evenings and farmers just want to get on with doing this. There is a great appetite for these types of results-based payment schemes where farmers can see the outputs of their work and receive a payment based on that work. I think we are moving away from the siloed position. We saw it when we launched the NBAP in the Botanic Gardens in February. The chairperson of the ICMSA was there. The chairperson of the IFA said that the farmers had nothing to fear from the NBAP. This represents a sea change from where we were a couple of years ago and it is to be welcomed.

I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Whitmore about what the State can do on its own land and specifically about the remit of Coillte and Bord na Móna. There is no doubt that the conservation measures programme on State lands is prioritising peatlands and woodland restoration. Rhododendron removal at scale is now happening. We are working closely with Coillte and Bord na Móna on restoration. As I mentioned in my opening statement, I want to see a much stronger approach by Coillte, particularly in relation to the hen harrier threat response plan, which I think is vitally important.

Regarding issues around the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, we are giving it consideration and working with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, on them

I thank Deputy O'Rourke for his comments. He is correct to say that nature will find a way, but we have a job of work to do collectively to try to help conserve nature and to ensure that the right policy and plans are in place. The Government has put nature at the heart of its plans and policies. I hope that the Deputy's party, if it is in the fortunate position of taking up the baton after the next election, will continue this work on the investment trajectory we have taken over successive budgets and will take in the upcoming budget as well. I agree with the point about challenging vested interests and power imbalances. All of these are very important issues to try to deal with.

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh raised issues around the deliberative democracy process of the citizens' assemblies. They are not unique to Ireland but we have them done incredibly well. The proof will be in the implementation of the recommendations from the main assembly and the children and young people's assembly. This is something we are very conscious of. There is a reporting mechanism in place. We are subject to annual reporting on the implementation of the NBAP. The implementation is being overseen by the biodiversity forum as well. There is a very strong reporting structure in place. Reporting back to the Oireachtas committees is very important, as a number of Deputies pointed out.

Deputy Bruton raised a point about the vagueness of targets and the lack of policy coherence. As I said, the NBAP is on a statutory footing. In some cases, the targets may seem vague. . This is not to say they are open-ended, but they are to a point where they are long-range targets. I think that monitoring, evaluation and gathering data in terms of their effectiveness and impact is vitally important.

Members mentioned financing and embedding the integration of natural capital accounting into our national accounts. This piece of work is in tow, but we are conscious that it needs to embed itself into our national accounting mechanisms.

I thank Deputies for their contributions this afternoon. I also thank the citizen's assembly and its chair for their work and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action for its very speedy deliberation. The committee had a very comprehensive piece of work to do in a very short time.

The bolstering of the NPWS in recent years is making is certainly making a significant difference. The NPWS team and the staff on the ground are at the forefront and while they are the firefighters in this biodiversity crisis, it is our collective responsibility to meet this great challenge. The onus is on us in this Chamber and in the Dáil, as well as on communities across the country. What we have been trying to do over the past number of years, and we are starting to succeed, is to embed good practice, principles and policies and to provide supports, financial and otherwise, to help communities to be part of this great change and the great transition that we need to make.

Again, I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions this afternoon.

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