Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
353. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the impact assessments that are being carried out in relation to the proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation concerning the use of farmland and food production; if such assessments are being factored in to the overall national response regarding this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25212/23]
View answerThe proposed Nature Restoration Regulation provides an opportunity for transformative change in relation to achieving nature restoration in Ireland and the EU as a whole. While much of the recent focus has been on the use of farmland and agricultural impacts, the proposed Regulation covers a huge range of land and marine options - urban, agricultural, river, marine and forest environments.
Climate change and biodiversity loss pose significant threats to agricultural production and the communities associated with the sector. The restoration of nature acts as mitigation to ensure the EU’s long term food systems sustainability and resilience and the long term economic and social sustainability of the agricultural sector.
A whole of Government response to the Regulation will be required, and this will involve each Department carrying out a detailed impact assessment as part of the preparation of the nature restoration plan, to accurately calculate the investment needed to support the transformative change required to meet the proposed targets.
