Legislative underpinning for national parks

Dep. Marc Ó Cathasaigh:
National parks are a bit like buses; you wait 25 years for one and two of them come along at once. The addition of Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí and Páirc Náisiúnta Bhrú na Bóinne to our store of national parks will be one of the enduring legacies of this Government. While I am unequivocally in favour of these new designations, I cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there is not actually a legislative underpinning for our national parks. The national biodiversity action plan sets as one of its objectives to ensure the legislative framework for biodiversity conservation is robust, clear and enforceable. One of the sub-targets is that the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, should publish legislation to provide a legal basis for our national parks. Can we instigate and expedite this process under this Government? I am not sure I can trust the next government to do as good a job as the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, would do in this regard.

The Taoiseach

I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is doing an excellent job, as, of course, is the Government on many issues and we look forward to putting that case to the people in due course. On the important point that the Deputy has made on national parks, the progress that has been made and the need to look at legislative underpinning, I will speak directly to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, as will the Deputy, I know, and the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and we will revert to the Deputy