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

I absolutely appreciate the challenge this has created. We are in the depths of a biodiversity crisis and it is important. Our urban areas and Dublin have a huge role to play around the species of wetland birds. We know that the Brent goose population has increased by 230% from 1994 and 1995 and from 2018 to 2019. It is quite a significant population increase, which suggests that it is a good thing in terms of the population increase of the birds. As the Senator has said, the appropriate assessment is important in looking at ways of finding additional sites or other foraging sites for the geese when they are over-wintering in Dublin. It would be important. I will talk to officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service to engage with the biodiversity officers in Dublin City Council to perhaps see if there is a way forward here. Again, these are challenges of increased demand for public space and increased demand for amenity space as the population grows in Dublin city. I believe it is important that all species can live together and particularly in urban centres. There is an opportunity for the development of these playing pitches but also the protection of this really important species.