Invasive Species Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2024

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Tuesday, 24 September 2024

Questions (216, 217, 218, 219, 233, 234, 235, 236)

Patrick Costello

Question:

216. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that The National Parks and Wildlife Service, Invasives Ireland, the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the report of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss all classify cherry laurel as a high-impact invasive species, and Coillte has identified it as a significant threat to biodiversity, if he will commit to formally recognise and regulate it as invasive in the near future [37269/24]

Patrick Costello

Question:

217. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage why, despite the European Union (Invasive Alien Species) Regulations 2024 having strengthened Ireland’s provisions on invasive species, Article 50 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 remains unenacted, given the importance of this article for addressing invasive species at a national level; if he will provide a detailed explanation for the Government's decision not to enact it, and how the 2024 regulations fill this gap. [37270/24]

Patrick Costello

Question:

218. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of delaying the enactment of Article 50 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, whether he has considered the European Union's long-standing practice of allowing trade restrictions and derogations to protect biodiversity; and if this has been factored into the recent updates to the invasive species regulations. [37271/24]

Patrick Costello

Question:

219. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that cherry laurel is not currently listed as an invasive species under the 2024 regulations, whether he has applied the precautionary principle, as required under European Union law, when making this decision; if not, to explain the rationale for not using this principle, especially in light of cherry laurel's widely recognised impact on native habitats. [37272/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

233. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will commit to formally recognising cherry laurel as an invasive species and regulate it in the near future (details supplied). [37572/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

234. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a detailed explanation for the Government's decision not to enact Article 50 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011; and the way the 2024 regulations fill this gap (details supplied). [37573/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

235. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the context of delaying the enactment of Article 50 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, if he has considered the EU's long-standing practice of allowing trade restrictions and derogations to protect biodiversity given that EU case law supports such restrictions when justified by environmental protection; and if this been factored into the recent updates to the invasive species regulations. [37574/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

236. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given that cherry laurel is not currently listed as an invasive species under the 2024 regulations, if he has applied the precautionary principle, as required under EU law, when making this decision; if not, the rationale for not using this principle, especially in light of cherry laurel's widely recognised impact on native habitats. [37575/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 217, 218, 219, 233, 234, 235 and 236 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 859 of 9 September 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.

Question No. 217 answered with Question No. 216.

Question No. 218 answered with Question No. 216.

Question No. 219 answered with Question No. 216.

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