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

I welcome the debate. Before I respond to some of the comments, I will put on the record that the comments made by Deputy Mattie McGrath about the Environmental Protection Agency are an absolute disgrace. I call on the Deputy to withdraw them and to correct the record of the Dáil in respect of what he said. His anti-science world view is not welcome in this Chamber. We are seeing it emerge right across Europe in the European elections and we are seeing it here in Ireland. It really is most unwelcome that the Deputy made such comments here in the Dáil Chamber.

I thank all of the Deputies and the proposers of the motion. The Government is not opposing the motion. There are two asks of Government in the motion. It is asked to:

— develop a National Restoration Plan that delivers on climate action through the protection and restoration of nature that also ensures the voluntary nature of actions on farmland, as well as the protection of farmers livelihoods; and

— ensure that farmland targeted under the Nature Restoration Law can continue to operate a range of agricultural activities that ensures these lands can continue to be defined as an agricultural area under CAP programmes.

We have already given those commitments and wholeheartedly support that approach. Some of the figures in the motion as put forward by Deputy Naughten have to be taken with extreme caution. It is not clear where the figure of 670,000 ha comes from but it is important to note that Article 4 targets focus on areas of Annex I habitats that are not in good condition. Using Article 17 data, the NPWS estimates this takes in approximately 467,000 ha. Using that same data, it is estimated that approximately 17,000 ha of Annex I habitat need to be re-established to meet favourable reference area criteria. Most of this is woodland habitat.

As the question has been raised by a number of Deputies this morning, I will reiterate that the Government is certain that we can cover 2040 targets on public land. We also believe that public land could go a long way towards meeting the 2050 targets but we need more research on the issue. That is something we are absolutely committed to doing. We also commit that all measures will be voluntary for farmers. Tens of thousands of them are already participating in schemes through ACRES, LIFE programmes, farm plans and so on. They are involved willingly and are very enthusiastic towards these nature restoration schemes. Details on the numbers of the areas will be worked out in close collaboration with farmers through the restoration planning process. As the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, did at the outset, I will give a commitment that the development of a national plan will be collaborative and that it will be worked on with all stakeholders.

A number of questions and points were raised. I will refer specifically to those raised by Sinn Féin. Deputy Kerrane stated this was handled very badly. I agree it may have been handled badly in Europe but it certainly was not handled badly by Ireland, the Irish Government or our MEPs. We have shown leadership and continue to do so.

Whoever is on this side of the House after the next election must continue that leadership. That is critically important. There is no opt-out here. Nature is telling us we need to act and we are simply not listening. I take on board the points Deputy Kerrane was making about the INHFA and I have met it on a number of occasions. Sinn Féin Deputies are trying to correct the vote of Chris McManus, given the fact the party voted for the nature restoration law here, which was the exact same nature restoration law Chris McManus was asked to vote on as an MEP. He voted against it, and was the only Irish MEP to do so. It is an inconsistency of approach by Sinn Féin.

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