Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to ensure his Department, in accordance with the requirement under the national biodiversity plan, has drawn up a biodiversity action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13480/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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My Department contributed material to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the need to respect biodiversity in our overseas development programme, which was integrated into the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-2006. A separate Departmental Biodiversity Action Plan has not been produced. However, the Irish Aid Environmental Policy commits Ireland to addressing global environment problems through our engagement with bodies such as the United Nations and the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD. It also commits Ireland to supporting the efforts of partner governments and civil society at country level and to work closely with other donors in ensuring a coordinated response to environmental challenges in general.

Officials from my Department are in regular contact with their counterparts in the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is responsible for preparing a new National Biodiversity Plan for the period from 2008 to 2012. My Department is also represented on the Interdepartmental Steering Committee on Biodiversity.