Enterprise Support Services

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

Ceisteanna (355)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

355. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage given the Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable rural enterprises and the economic value of the Natura 2000 network; if his Department has signed the master licence agreement with the European Commission (DG Environment) to implement the commercial licensing scheme for the Natura 2000 logo in Ireland, as established by the Commission Decision of 4 June 2021; and if not, the specific timeline for signing this agreement and establishing the necessary national sub-licensing mechanism to allow compliant Irish businesses to use the logo for commercial purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68089/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

In 2021, the European Commission (DG Environment) adopted a licence agreement allowing Member States to use the Natura 2000 logo for goods and services, under certain conditions.

The licence agreement allows a Member State to sublicense the logo to producers of goods or providers of services — but only if those goods/services meet strict criteria (e.g. products/services must originate from or be provided in a Natura 2000 site, and be compatible with conservation objectives).

To date, Spain is the only Member State to have signed a licence agreement and it intended to use this for the purposes of sustainable ecotourism. My Department has not yet considered signing a master licence agreement to implement the commercial licensing scheme for the Natura 2000 logo in Ireland.