Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
534. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will add the clematis vitalba plant, known colloquially as old man’s beard, to the national inventory of invasive plant species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42395/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit activities to introduce or spread invasive species. In addition to national legislation, EU Regulation 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species also provides for a range of concerted EU wide measures to be taken with respect to listed species of Union concern (the 'Union list').
Clematis vitalba is a common species in Ireland with a widespread distribution. It was categorised as an invasive species with a risk of Medium Impact following a risk analysis and prioritisation assessment of invasive alien species in Ireland undertaken in 2013, which can be found at the following link – www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Invasives_taggedMediumImpact_2013RA3.pdf.
Further details on the species in Ireland can be found at the following link: species.biodiversityireland.ie/profile.php?taxonId=28429&taxonDesignationGroupId=26
While there are no immediate plans to update the current Schedule of invasive alien species (the 'national list'), changes to the Schedule will be considered in the context of the development of a national management plan for invasive alien species, work on which is underway in my Department.
