Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

226. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the engagements he has had with other Departments in order to ensure that designations under the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 will involve full consultation with farmers. [38161/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since its launch in May 2020, my Department has been in contact with other relevant Departments concerning the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The Strategy is an ambitious and far-reaching document which aims to strengthen and improve the protection afforded to habitats and species in the EU as well as put in place measures to restore nature and begin the process of halting biodiversity loss.

The modalities of protection and implementation of the Strategy across Member States, are still under discussion with the European Commission. In this regard, my Department is considering the best means to achieve the targets set out in the Strategy. My officials have already had discussions with the farming representative organisations, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and will continue to do so to ensure that the views of the agricultural sector are fully considered as discussions on implementation of the Strategy progress.