Address to Seanad Éireann by Members of the European Parliament
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Malcolm Noonan (GP), Agricultural Panel

Cuirim fáilte roimh Bhaill Pharlaimint na hEorpa. I welcome the MEPs. I have a question to all the MEPs on the multi-annual financial framework and the dedicated funding. I welcome the engagement we had on the nature restoration regulation and, in particular, the bravery shown by Irish MEPs in getting that regulation across the line. We now need to go the distance and move to fully fund nature restoration in Ireland. We will be developing a plan that will be brought forward in September in Ireland. We need support for that. We need financial support. I met with the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association last week in Sligo. It wants funding. There is deep concern around the funding of that, but also around LIFE projects, European Innovation Partnerships, EIPs, the funding of which is to be subsumed into the competitiveness fund. It is very important from the MEPs' point of views that they argue and fight for a dedicated stream of funding for nature restoration and to ensure that the LIFE and EIP projects are maintained as stand-alone funding measures.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-18