Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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850.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the use of cherry laurel in Ireland; if it should be recognised as an invasive species; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35156/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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851.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will implement Article 50 of the Habitats Directive.[35157/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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859.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the need for the enactment of Article 50 of S.I. No. 477 2011 - European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and, as per the recommendations of the citizens assembly on biodiversity loss, the inclusion of Cherry Laurel on the third schedule of the Habitats Directive and will he instruct his department to action this urgently.[35407/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 850, 851 and 859 together.

My Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the implementation of legislation around invasive alien species including the new European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 which were introduced in July of this year. These new regulations give full effect to the EU IAS Regulation (1143/2014) in the national context and also update and strengthen the existing provisions around invasive alien species in Ireland.

While Regulation 50 of the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 has not been brought into force, the 2024 Regulations make it an offence to place invasive alien species on the market, in line with Article 7 of the EU Regulation, for sale or exchange. This provision is applied to both invasive alien species of Union concern and invasive alien species of national concern.

While it can have a detrimental impact on native habitats and species, Cherry Laurel is not a listed invasive species in Ireland nor is it included on the European list of invasive species of Union concern. However, Regulation 12 of the new Regulations provides for emergency measures for species that are not included on the Union list. In this context, NPWS will examine the feasibility of restricting the sale, distribution and planting of Cherry Laurel.

In the meantime, sightings of this species in the wild may be submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre through its online portal or mobile application, through the following link:

www.invasives.ie/what-can-i-do/report-sightings/

Submission of sightings allows for better monitoring of the impact of invasive alien species and will help inform policy decisions and effective implementation of measures to tackle such species in the coming months and years.

The new regulations (SI 374/2024) and the EU IAS Regulation (1143/2014) are enclosed for your convenience.