Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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876. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the size of the Irish delegation at COP16 in February 2025; the level of seniority of the delegates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11371/25]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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877. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if Ireland had ministerial presence at COP16 in Rome in February 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11372/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 876 and 877 together.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), under my Direction, leads on a range of multilateral agreements, including the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). Ireland’s delegation at the recent CBD COP 16 meeting in Rome was made up of senior officials and subject matter experts from NPWS, led by its Director of International & EU Affairs.

My colleague, Minister O'Sullivan, was briefed on the outcomes along with actions to prepare for CBD 17th meeting (CBD COP17) which takes place in Yerevan, Armenia in autumn 2026, where it will fall to Ireland, as President of the EU Council to lead the negotiations on behalf of the EU.