Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [13478/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Biodiversity Plan indicates that Biodiversity Action Plans are to be drawn up by each relevant Department. My Department is not a relevant Department for this purpose and accordingly it was not necessary to draw up an action plan.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [13474/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department did not draw up a biodiversity action plan under the previous National Biodiversity Plan, as it was not considered a "relevant" Department for the purpose of that Plan. The activities of my Department have little direct impact on biodiversity. However, Fáilte Ireland, a State Agency funded by my Department, is a partner in the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government Notice Nature campaign for the protection of biodiversity.

Guidelines for the protection of biodiversity for the tourism industry, which were developed by Fáilte Ireland and Notice Nature, were published in December 2007. These are practical guidelines on what the tourism industry can do to ensure the protection and conservation of biodiversity. In addition to this, Fáilte Ireland has also published its Tourism and the Environment Action Plan 2007 -2009 which contains objectives relating to the protection and conservation of biodiversity.

My Department is represented on the Inter-Departmental Steering Group, which was established to develop the 2nd National Biodiversity Plan for Ireland, which will cover the period 2008-12. When the Plan is agreed and published any actions appropriate to my Department will be implemented.