I would like to discuss the need to establish the promised countryside forum for nature. As a Deputy representing a rural constituency, I have a deep understanding of the importance of striking a balance between protecting our countryside and preserving and supporting the economic social and cultural interests and traditions of those who live in, work in and enjoy the countryside. Engaging with, giving voice to and actively listening to rural stakeholders is critical to achieving this balance. In 2021, a review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, recommended the creation of a nature advisory committee with a wide stakeholder base. That council was not established. The subsequent strategic action plan for the NPWS which was approved by Cabinet agreed to establish a stakeholder forum with an implementation deadline of September 2022. That deadline was not met. The stakeholder forum was never established. Earlier this year the NPWS agreed a memorandum of understanding with the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, with an establishment deadline of 30 June this year. That deadline was not met. That countryside forum for nature has not yet been established. There appears to be a recurring pattern here. Commitments are made but they are not delivered on and deadlines continue to slip. Unfortunately, rural communities and stakeholders bear the consequences. It is those communities, those representative bodies and organisations, those local people I have met time and again that I wish to speak up for here today to make sure that their voices are heard and this commitment is met. I accept there are specific sectoral forums on issues such as nature restoration and sustainable bird hunting. However, there is no single overarching forum whereby rural stakeholders - not just game hunters but also farming groups, rural sports groups, conservation groups and environmental NGOs - can sit around the same table with the NPWS to discuss a national policy approach to conserving nature, wildlife and the habitats that make up rural Ireland's countryside, while keeping balance with the rights, traditions and interests of the people who call that countryside their home, workplace and haven. The Government has approved the establishment of this forum, possibly for a third time now. The NPWS has signed a memorandum of understanding with the NARGC committing to its creation. Rural Ireland, including the people I represent in rural Ireland, and these groups are waiting for the forum to become operational. There is no excuse for any further delay at this stage and there is certainly no excuse for missing a third forum to which the Government has committed. I ask for update on when the first meeting will happen and request that progress be made immediately. In particular, I ask for a date for the first forum meeting.

Sentiment score: 0.23

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Collins, for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan. I appreciate that this is not directly his departmental area but I must express my concern at the initial response. In 2021, the nature advisory committee was committed to but not established. In 2022, the stakeholder forum was committed to but not established and I am worrying now, based on the reply, that we are seeing a third forum being promised but not being established and another group of organisations in rural Ireland being let down. We still do not have a clear commitment or a date for the establishment of the countryside forum for nature. Rural communities have been waiting for years for a forum where stakeholders, including farmers, rural sports groups, and conservation organisations, can come together to discuss policy on nature, wildlife and habitats in a balanced and constructive way. While progress has been promised on multiple occasions, deadlines have slipped and I am worried that we are about to see more deadlines slipping. The NPWS has signed a memorandum of understanding and I cannot comprehend how it can do that, commit to a date for a meeting to take place and then turn around, mere months after missing that date, and say that it is too busy to do it. How does the NPWS have the authority to sign something, commit to it and say to representative bodies that it is going to do something, and then turn around and say it is too busy with other things, has too many other commitments and cannot make it happen? A commitment has been made to the NARGC, a very good body that wants to work with the Government and the NPWS and other State agencies for the betterment of rural Ireland in the context of conservation activities. There are other groups that want to be involved too, in the one room, informing policy on a very important area for the people whom I represent. I ask the Minister of State to bring my concern back to the NPWS and the Minister of State and make it very clear to them how disappointed I am, on behalf of these groups, that they are possibly being let down again.

Sentiment score: 0.19