Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
3001. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the national business and biodiversity platform as committed to under Future Jobs Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32444/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the National Biodiversity Conference in February 2019, I announced our Conference Charter, ‘Seeds for Nature’. This Charter comprises a cross-sectoral suite of commitments for nature and biodiversity that go beyond current work programmes to support, scale up and fast track the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
One of my commitments under "Seeds for Nature" is to establish an Irish Business and Biodiversity Platform with my colleague Minister Humphreys. The Platform will promote best practice and seek commitments for biodiversity action and reporting from the private sector.
Preliminary discussions have taken place within and between officials of both Departments with a view to scoping the work of the platform, identifying opportunities and positioning the platform in the context of the Government's overall strategies for business and biodiversity.
A number of Irish businesses have already agreed to participate in the initiative and it is intended that consultation with stakeholders will get underway later this year.
