Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide an update on the implementation of the biodiversity strategy currently in place; if measures contained in current strategy have yet to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In 2002, Ireland published its first National Biodiversity Plan. This Plan contained 91 actions, grouped under a number of themes, which reflected Ireland's commitment to the implementation of the objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The overall objective of that Plan was to secure the conservation, including where possible the enhancement and sustainable use of biological diversity in Ireland, to contribute to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity globally, and to advance other obligations of the Convention in the EU, regionally and internationally.

An interim review of the plan was published in 2005, and included an independent review by Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council. The review showed substantial progress in most of the Plan's actions, indicating that 23 actions had been implemented with a further 60 showing implementation was ongoing; leaving 8 actions requiring further action. Some of the actions implemented exceeded their aims, while others, which were ongoing, showed substantial achievement.

A further review of progress on the actions is being undertaken as part of the input to the new National Biodiversity Plan 2010-2015. I intend to publish this latest review in conjunction with the new Plan in the near future. I have invited interested organisations and members of the public to make observations on the draft of the new plan, with a closing date of 22 October 2010 for submissions. The lessons learned from the experience to date on actions in the first National Biodiversity Plan have been an important consideration in preparing the new plan.