Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Section 5 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 introduces a new Part, Part VA, to the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. This provides for a statutory basis for National Biodiversity Action plans and a corresponding duty on public bodies to follow these plans.

Each of the public bodies that the provisions of the Act apply to is set down under section 59H of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, as amended. These are as follows:

(a) a Minister of the Government;

(b) Bord Iascaigh Mhara;

(c) Bord na Móna;

(d) An Bord Pleanála;

(e) Coillte Teoranta (being a company formed and registered under the Companies Acts as provided for by section 9 of the Forestry Act 1988);

(f) Commission for Aviation Regulation;

(g) Commission for Communications Regulation;

(h) Commission for Railway Regulation;

(i) Commission for Regulation of Utilities;

(j) Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland;

(k) a company formed in respect of a harbour in accordance with section 7 of the Harbours Act 1996;

(l) Eirgrid;

(m) Electricity Supply Board;

(n) Enterprise Ireland;

(o) the Environmental Protection Agency;

(p) Ervia;

(q) Geological Survey Ireland;

(r) Heritage Council;

(s) Iarnród éireann-Irish Rail;

(t) Industrial Development Agency (Ireland);

(u) Inland Fisheries Ireland;

(v) Irish Lights Commission;

(w) a local authority within the meaning of section 2 of the Local Government Act 2001;

(x) Marine Institute;

(y) National Roads Authority;

(z) Office of the Revenue Commissioners;

(aa) a planning authority within the meaning of the Planning and Development Act 2000;

(bb) Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority;

(cc) Teagasc-The Agriculture and Food Development Authority;

(dd) údarás na Gaeltachta.

The legislation provides for further public bodies to be added. There are no plans at this point to prescribe further bodies, however this will be kept under review.