Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on introducing ecocide as criminal offence in legislation.. [25202/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the fact that the Irish State is working with other countries towards ecocide becoming a recognised crime in international law through the relevant EU and UN bodies. [25203/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions No 157 and 158 together.

The next ten years are critical if we are to address the climate and biodiversity crises which threaten our safe future on this planet. It is imperative that we protect our biodiversity and natural heritage against deliberate acts of systematic destruction of ecosystems, both nationally and globally.  The Programme for Government recognises that biodiversity is vital to the continued health of our society, economy, species and planet. Following on from the Dáil's declaration of a Biodiversity Emergency last year, this Government will work in a supportive and constructive way with those agencies and organisations nationally, at EU-level, and internationally - tasked with protecting our biodiversity and natural heritage.

Ireland engages actively through the EU to support the development of ambitious global responses to these challenges, in particular through the United Nations. A number of UN Framework Conventions, particularly on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) provide mechanisms for international cooperation to tackle climate and ecological challenges, in particular through the adoption of ambitious treaties and agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Ireland recognises that multilateral responses are crucial to tackling environmental and climate-related challenges, and my Department engages with relevant EU and UN structures to support these objectives, both directly and through cross-departmental participation as appropriate, but has not had any engagement in relation ecocide becoming a recognised crime in international law.