I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 196 and 198 together.
The proposed Nature Restoration Law was formally adopted by the European Commission in late June.
The proposals set out legally binding targets in the form of a regulation which will have direct effect across a broad range of ecosystem types, both terrestrial and marine. These proposed targets would require restoration of substantial percentages of these ecosystems to good ecological status by set dates.
The Commission’s proposals are now being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. It is expected that discussions at Council and European Parliament level will run well into 2023 before the final Regulation is agreed.
As currently worded, the proposed Regulation has the potential to impact across a number of Irish Government Departments, including my own Department. In developing positions on EU proposals, I have always been conscious that we not jeopardise Ireland's ability to produce safe, nutritious and sustainable food, something that we are rightly proud of.
In respect to engagement, I have ongoing engagement with farm bodies across all new and emerging environmental requirements and the nature restoration law is but one of these emerging environmental ambitions. The EU must also enhance and ensure coherence between EU trade policy which applies to imported agri-food products and EU environmental and sectoral policies which apply to EU agriculture producers.
Given that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are responsible for co-ordinating Ireland’s response to the proposals, my officials will continue to engage with that Department as well as farm families' representatives as these proposals progress.