Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action to meet with members of Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to discuss their report

The meeting at 11am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from members of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss led by its Chairperson, Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Associate Professor at the UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics.

The Citizens’ Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss was referred by the Dáil to the Joint Committee to consider is recommendations, with a report back date of 31 December 2023.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Leddin said: “The Committee welcomes this opportunity to meet with members of the Citizens Assembly to discuss their Report on Biodiversity Loss ahead of our examination of its content, conclusions and recommendations.

“A biodiversity emergency was declared in 2019 but biodiversity loss has continued to worsen and contribute significantly to climate change. This is of concern to most Members of the Oireachtas and it is essential that we address the problems inherent to Ireland’s biodiversity loss to mitigate this.

“This Committee published our own report in relation to biodiversity loss last November and many of our recommendations echo those of the Citizens’ Assembly. Following the referral of the Citizens’ Assembly report, we will have a significant body of work ahead of us in the coming months and we look forward to discussing that agenda and related matters with Dr Ní Shúilleabháin and her colleagues.”

The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.