Vol. 448 No. 8
26 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if he will consider putting in place an ecological monitoring scheme for all major tourism developments in Ireland to guarantee that the natural environment is protected at all points along the way to an ecologically sustainable tourism industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1366/95]
I have no plans to introduce an ecological monitoring scheme aimed specifically at major tourism developments.
Existing measures in the areas of nature conservation, environmental protection and physical planning are intended to care for our natural environment in an integrated way. I do not believe that tourism developments should be catered for separately outside of this context. In this regard, I would also refer the Deputy to my previous reply to him on the subject of eco-tourism on 24 January last (Dáil Debates, vol. 447, No. 11, col. 236).
