Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
827. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide his response to the report from the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity and Loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17703/23]
View answerFollowing the declaration by the Dáil of a Biodiversity Emergency in 2019 and in recognition of the vital role that biodiversity plays in the continued health of our society, economy, species and planet, the Programme for Government included a commitment to hold a Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. I strongly welcome the publication of the report of this Assembly and am grateful to members of the Assembly for their dedication and commitment to the process.
Healthy nature provides food and food security, clean water, carbon sinks and protection against natural disasters caused by climate change, such as flooding and coastal inundation. Efforts to date to halt the loss of nature and biodiversity in Ireland have had limited success, however, and we need to take action to ensure a healthy environment for future generations. Biodiversity is a core element of our natural heritage, and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss recognised that the response to conserving and restoring biodiversity should take into account the integral heritage and cultural values of our natural world. A whole of Government, whole of society approach is required to address the crisis.
The Assembly agreed 159 recommendations, including 73 high level and 86 sectoral specific recommendations, reflecting the depth and breadth of the topics discussed. The recommendations of the Assembly will now be deliberated by the relevant committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
