Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust calls on an Taoiseach, Michaél Martin, to show leadership for nature and treat the climate and biodiversity crises as the emergencies they are

Jan 23

Press release 

Date: 23rd January 2025

Irish Wildlife Trust calls on an Taoiseach, Michaél Martin, to show leadership for nature and treat the climate and biodiversity crises as the emergencies they are.

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust looks forward to engaging with new Government Ministers on environmental issues and calls for the reinstatement of a Minister of State for Nature.

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust has expressed deep concern at the lack of ambition for nature shown by the new Government. Six years ago the Irish Government declared a climate and biodiversity emergency, but the new Programme for Government lacks any real targets and actions across many sectors. Reinstating a Minister of State for Nature would be a welcome addition and would be a good first step in showing leadership at tackling the climate and biodiversity crises

 

One particularly striking omission is the complete lack of commitment to ring fence funds from the infrastructure, climate and nature fund to enact the EU Nature Restoration Law. The IWT contacted lead negotiators during the drafting of the programme and requested this to be made a priority. Without ambitious funding, farmers will be unable to enact any voluntary measures for the restoration of nature. Other aspects around the Nature Restoration Law were mentioned such as the progression of a National Restoration Plan (NRP) ‘in consultation and partnership with farmers and local communities’. Stakeholder engagement for the NRP is legally mandatory and is contained within the text of the NRL. The new Government also stated they would commit to clear targets within the National Biodiversity Plan and we feel it was a missed opportunity not to include and elaborate on these targets in the PfG. 

 

Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer for the IWT said, ‘The PfG was very disappointing as many points mentioned within it are actions which the Government is already legally obliged to undertake. The lack of ring fencing of funds for nature restoration is the most worrying omission and we hope that the allocation of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature fund will take into account the critical need for nature restoration and the positive impacts this will have on climate change mitigation and adaptation.’

 

Despite their lands making up the largest proportion of areas suitable for nature restoration actions, there was no mention of a reform of mandates of Coillte and Bord na Mona to allow these organisation focus more on nature restoration. This step is seen by the Irish Wildlife Trust as essential in delivering the Nature Restoration Plan. There was also no mention of a review of the outdated ‘Arterial Drainage Act 1945’, another key law which, as it stands, would prevent Ireland from meeting its targets within the NRL.

 

The Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes the promise of the  re-establishment of a Minister for State for Fisheries and Marine.  However, commitments for marine conservation were lacking in the programme. Disappointingly, there was no mention of the long awaited Marine Protected Areas Bill, despite a commitment to this in the last programme. This is another worrying omission. While there is a commitment to expanding Marine Protected Areas, currently, MPAs are designated under the EU Birds and Habitats Directive and public consultation before designation of areas is not mandatory within these laws. The enactment of an ambitious MPA Bill into law could help to rectify this and ensure coastal communities and those who rely on the sea have their views considered. There is also a mention of establishing wildlife sanctuaries but no definition of what this would entail. Other definitions of wildlife sanctuaries state that these areas are places where wildlife can exist without human pressures. Regardless, without a strong legal framework underpinning these designations, they won’t account for much.

 

There was a commitment included to ‘create new national parks and increase funding to the NPWS to support its operation and visitor experiences’, as well as promises to strengthen the NPWS in general. Investment into the NPWS is always welcomed, however, our current National Parks and nature reserves are not managed to effectively protect the biodiversity within them. This should be a priority before establishing any new parks.

 

Overall this Programme for Government shows a neglectful lack of ambition on nature protection and restoration and a lack of understanding about the opportunity that nature restoration offers for climate action and societal benefit.

 

END

Contact: grace@iwt.ie