Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 31:

In page 17, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:

"

".

This amendment seeks to do the opposite to Senator Boyhan's, which was to take off taxus baccata, and to add hawthorn and blackthorn to the list of native species that can be included in the areas. Both these species are good in respect of the benefits for biodiversity, including flowers. These plants flower early and are a good source of food for pollinators, for insects foraging and for those foraging on the berries in the autumn. They also provide excellent cover and shelter for nesting and roosting. The idea is to add these species to the list. If the Minister of State is not going to accept this amendment, I would like to hear why he will not do so. As I said, these two species provide exceptional biodiversity benefits.