Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will speak to amendments Nos. 29 and 144, both of which are in my name. Amendment No. 29 proposes to include in section 2 a statement to the effect that the national biodiversity action plan has the meaning assigned to it by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023. The Minister's amendment No. 118, in Part 3, probably covers that adequately. I am merely seeking clarification. The Minister's wording refers to section 59A of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. I wish to ensure that it is the national biodiversity action plan as set out in the Wildlife Act, as amended in 2023. I seek clarification on that to ensure that there is no confusion on it.

Amendment No. 144 relates to the national planning framework, which sets out a number of areas where there should be a strategy and furtherance of objectives. It outlines objectives in respect of the pursuit of the national climate objectives and integrated planning and development in the State.

I was seeking to insert an amendment to outline:

... how the pursuit and achievement of the national biodiversity objective, as set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the National Biodiversity Plan in accordance with the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 is to be integrated into plan-led development in the State.

It would still be a suitable amendment, but I note the result of positive engagement we had on Committee Stage when we had a wide-ranging discussion on the Act as a whole in the context of seeking to improve the integration between the planning system and climate action and protection of biodiversity. If you go back to the 2000 Act, it is not really mentioned that much in it or even in the subsequent amendments. In 2024, we realise that we are facing into very serious nature, biodiversity and climate crises at the same time. That is why I sought to introduce that.

Amendments Nos. 140, 220, 234 and 364 in the Minister's name will make very positive changes to the Bill. They are the result of the positive engagement and listening that took place on Committee Stage when we discussed this matter in great detail. I tabled 40 or 50 amendments on climate and biodiversity for Committee Stage, which have either already been included in the Bill or are contemplated by the Minister's amendments today. I appreciate that. I thank the Minister for taking those amendments on board and I thanks his officials for crafting them into the Bill before us.

Am I correct that amendment No. 39 is included in this group?

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