Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
253. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the Government will publish its comprehensive response to the Citizens' Assembly on biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30288/23]
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 Citizen's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.
Efforts to date to halt the loss of nature and biodiversity in Ireland have had limited success 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 Citizen's 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 Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action. The Committee will, in turn, bring its conclusions to the Houses of the Oireachtas for debate. The Government will provide in the Houses a response to each recommendation of the Assembly and, if accepting some or all of the recommendations, will indicate the timeframe it envisages for implementing those recommendations.
