Citizens' Assembly On Biodiversity Will Be Brought Before Cabinet This Year

Friday, 4 February 2022 09:35

By Caoimhe Harney

The Taoiseach has confirmed.

A proposal to convene the long-awaited Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity will be brought before Cabinet shortly, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed.

Environmental campaigners have continuously expressed frustration that the Citizens’ Assembly still wasn’t called after being first raised in 2019,the same year the government declared a climate and biodiversity emergency.

The issue was raised in the Dáil this Wednesday by Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan who urged the Taoiseach to convene the assembly.

“Biodiversity, nature, wildlife, right across the globe is in peril and nowhere more so than right here in Ireland,” he said.

The Taoiseach agreed that it was “absolutely critical that we move on this and move with speed and conviction”.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has said he is “thrilled” at the new Citizens' Assembly, making 2022 “a big year for nature”.

Campaign Officer, Irish Wildlife Trust, Padraic Fogarty spoke with Ciara Noble on Friday morning's Kildare Today:

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