Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I suggest that under dedesignation, that the constituent bodies of the National University of Ireland and their grounds be part of the biodiversity habitat. They are some of the more extensive natural grounds in some areas. I was proud to launch the sustainability strategy for NUI Galway which has put in a wildlife walk along the river banks where much of the land is owned by the university, and ultimately public land. It is not listed as one of the key categories but they are important land and natural space owners in many of our cities and towns and it is important to include them.

The role of protection is important, and thank the Minister for acknowledging that, but it is also about recognising that land which is not being used for a specific economic activity is not empty space. That is a fundamental shift. For years there was a mindset that green space that was not serving a clear and specific human function all the time was somehow empty space. It is wonderful that people can visit such spaces and that, for instance, children in Tallaght could visit the wetlands, but even if we never visited them, those spaces including green and wild spaces perform incredibly important work in sustaining our environment and the biodiverse life on our planet. It is important that there is a huge shift in mindset. I commend these amendments in terms of biodiversity and hope they become part of a shift in perspective in the way we engage with the diversity of life on our island.