Vol. 498 No. 5
181 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has to set up an independent appeals board to review EU designated wildlife habitats and to ensure the protection of these habitats will be carried out in a meaningful way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27963/98]
I have established an advisory appeals board to consider objections raised to the inclusion or exclusion of land in proposed special areas of conservation, SACs. The protection of habitats in these sites is ensured through powers included in the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. This protection applies to all sites publicised as proposed candidate SACs.
