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

I reassure the Senator that any proposed development on peatlands would be subject to a planning process and environmental assessment, as I noted in my opening statement. This is a matter for Bord na Móna, which is a semi-State company. Our involvement is through the national peatlands strategy. The ultimate goal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is to achieve the maximum value of biodiversity for Ireland. We have major objectives as regards nature under the next national biodiversity action plan. The specific issues raised are largely a matter for Bord na Móna. The engagement between Bord na Móna and the mid-Shannon wilderness park group is vital for that group. We all want to achieve the same objectives for nature and it is critically important that any proposals that are made are subject to all the environmental rigours that any other project would be subject to, particularly where there are such environmental and biodiversity sensitivities.