Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participation in the Nature Restoration Law will be voluntary for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36776/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This Government secured flexibilities in the legal text of the Nature Restoration Law to both support farmers and to recognise specific Irish circumstances.

The Government is clear that all restoration measures will be voluntary. The legislation is explicit on this in relation to rewetting, but participation in relation to wider restoration measures is a national competency. The legal obligation to achieve these targets is on the Member State, not the landowner.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are the leading government authority in Ireland for co-ordinating the national position on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) and associated national restoration plan. My Department has worked closely with NPWS to ensure that the text of the NRL will deliver for the environment and climate whilst supporting farmers and rural communities.

My Department is committed to ensuring that nature restoration provides additional income streams for landowners and brings benefit to rural economies. Any restoration measures that landowners choose to participate in will be well incentivised and resourced.