Joint Committees on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Environment and Climate Action hold briefing on Final Report of Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss

The Joint Committees on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Environment and Climate Action this morning held a briefing for Oireachtas Members and staff with Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.

Dr Ní Shúilleabháin briefed Committee Members on the report of the Citizens Assembly which has been presented to the Government and the Oireachtas and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action for further examination. Legislation to implement recommendations also fall under the remit of the Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Deputy Steven Matthews, Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, said: “Protecting, healing and restoring nature is necessary for our health, our economy and the wellbeing of urban and rural communities. The Citizens’ Assembly members have provided a great service to our country with an array of recommendations for us to consider.

“The Joint Oireachtas Committee for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has remit in relation to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Biodiversity Action Plan, and legislation on Marine Protected Areas, Planning and Development, Wildlife, Maritime Planning, the River Basin Management Plan and the Nature Restoration Regulations and EU directives on nature. We look forward to working on the Citizens Assembly recommendations with our colleagues on the Environment committee to protect nature now and for future generations.”

Deputy Brian Leddin, Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Environment and Climate Action, said: “Biodiversity loss is a concern of most Members of the Oireachtas. The Committee that I chair has published its own report in relation to this in November 2022. Many of the Committee’s recommendations echo those of the Citizens’ Assembly and it is clear that following the referral of the Citizens’ Assembly report to the Committee on Environment and Climate Action that the Committee will have a significant body of work for the Autumn sessions.

“While a biodiversity emergency was declared in 2019, biodiversity loss has continued to worsen and contribute significantly to climate change. It is essential that we address the problems inherent to Ireland’s biodiversity loss to mitigate this. A cohesive approach to nature restoration across all sectors and government departments is the only way to successfully reverse this loss for the benefit of all future generations.”

Deputy Matthews and Deputy Leddin thanked all those who participated in the Citizens’ Assembly and thanked Dr Ní Shúilleabháin for her work in bringing the Assembly to a close and for presenting the recommendations of its report on behalf of the Citizens’ Assembly.

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, chaired by Deputy Brian Leddin, has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The Final Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on March 31, 2023.