Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a recommendation that the report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity should be submitted to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. I am just wondering why that decision was made when one of the recommendations contained in the report proposes the establishment of a stand-alone committee to look at the assembly's other recommendations. There are 159 recommendations in the report. While there is something of a relationship between climate and how the use of land might impact on emissions, biodiversity and the crisis relating to it cut across a number of ministerial portfolios. It would be more beneficial for us to have a stand-alone special committee to look at those 159 recommendations and to get everybody around the table in order that those who represent from agricultural , marine and urban interests can be heard. This would be better than just having the climate committee, which is focused purely on reducing Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, consider the matter.