Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023
106. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received the final report of the Citizens Assembly on biodiversity loss; the way in which his Department will respond to the report and its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19961/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have read the final report of the Citizens' Assembly on biodiversity loss and I welcome its call for prompt, decisive and urgent action to ensure future generations will have a safe, clean and healthy environment with greater biodiversity.
The Programme for Government committed to a Land-use Review to optimise land use across key Government objectives such as improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes.
The first phase of the Land-use Review, which focused on evidence gathering, was published by Government in March. It consists of 10 documents and 19 recommendations indicating the need for more monitoring, enhancing of our mapping capability and better application of these tools to inform decision-making.
The second phase will be focusing optimising land-use across socioeconomic and environmental outcomes as committed to in the Programme for Government, including setting out preliminary policy options for consideration by Government. It will commence shortly, and will consider the evidence from the first phase, as well as new evidence such the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss report, in addition to holding an extensive stakeholder consultation process.
