Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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45. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the recently published EU nature restoration laws; the measures that the Government is putting in place to facilitate engagement on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55660/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation was published by the Commission in June 2022. Formal negotiations on the Regulation are now taking place between the Commission, Presidency (Czech) and Member States.

A Memorandum for Government on the proposed Regulation was brought to Cabinet on 22 November. Cabinet noted the ongoing negotiations in relation to the proposed Regulation, and agreed the formal position that the Regulation is an essential element of the EU Green Deal and EU Biodiversity Strategy, while recognising that its timing and implementation in Ireland will have significant impacts and raise challenges that will require a whole of Government approach.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will have a national coordination responsibility in respect of the negotiations on the proposed Regulation and the development of the National Restoration Plan. In this work, it will be assisted by experts from key Government Departments and resourced internally to deliver this function.

My Department will continue to work across Government with our partners, other Member States and the Commission, endeavouring to ensure that Ireland’s particular land use context is fully recognised and accommodated in the text of the Regulation as it evolves over the coming months.