I welcome the debate. Before I respond to some of the comments, I will put on the record that the comments made by Deputy Mattie McGrath about the Environmental Protection Agency are an absolute disgrace. I call on the Deputy to withdraw them and to correct the record of the Dáil in respect of what he said. His anti-science world view is not welcome in this Chamber. We are seeing it emerge right across Europe in the European elections and we are seeing it here in Ireland. It really is most unwelcome that the Deputy…

I disagree fundamentally-----

-----that this Government has made no progress on biodiversity. We have done much more than many Governments in previous years. Deputy Conway-Walsh mentioned Mayo, which probably has more LIFE projects interacting with one other, such as LIFE on Machair, Corncrake LIFE and Wild Atlantic Nature, than any other county. Again, farmers and landowners are participating very enthusiastically in those schemes. I will take back the point made by Deputy Ó Murchú about flooding in the Cooley Peninsula. I thank Deputy Bacik f…

It is embedded in the-----

It is embedded in the national biodiversity action plan which is now on a statutory footing.

It is embedded in the plan so whoever is standing here will be developing-----

-----a nature restoration plan. Whoever is here will be developing-----

-----a nature restoration plan and it is important that people are aware of that. Again, I welcome what has largely been a constructive debate. I welcome the fact we can debate it in a mature way and give assurances. This is a much broader issue than just agricultural lands or Annex 1 habitats. It is far-reaching. It is going to involve participation of local government and of many stakeholders. It is critically important we work collaboratively to do this. We are already beginning the process of looking at shaping…

Again, just to reassure on that, what it will deliver for us is better water quality, an enhanced ability of our landscape to purify our water, climate mitigation and nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, such as the flooding we saw across the country this spring, which was particularly acute. I remind Members that Article 11.11 of the NRL states, "Member States shall ensure that the preparation of the restoration plan is open, inclusive and effective and that the public [including all relevant stakeholders …

I move amendment No. 226: In page 73, line 15, to delete "makes" and substitute "shall make". This grouping includes a number of minor technical grammatical changes to the regional spatial and economic strategy provisions via amendments Nos. 226, 230, 236, 240, 242, 244 and 247. As before, these do not change the legal meaning of the sentences in question but have been identified by my Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to improve the syntax and usability of the sentences in question. Amendment …

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy.

In the time I have left, I will try to sum up in response to the points and queries raised by Deputies. In case I do not get time, again, I thank Deputy Matthews and all the committee members for the incredible work they have done. I sat in on quite a few of the sessions. The output of work from the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage over the past four and a half years has been impressive but this has really shown the incredible work it does. It goes unnoticed in the public discourse, but it is inc…

This goes back to a point raised by Deputy Ó Broin as well. In the past few weeks, the recast of the energy performance building directive has taken place at EU level. This was not done by the Green Party; it is happening at a high level in the EU. Deputy Ó Broin is correct with regard to modern methods of construction and the changes to procurement policy that need to take place. This process is moving in the right direction. It will lead to better energy performance in buildings. With regard to the issues around …

I apologise.

I move amendment No. 230: In page 73, lines 30 and 31, to delete “the preparation of, the making of and the revision of” and substitute “the preparation, making and revision of”.

I move amendment No. 232: In page 74, lines 25 and 26, to delete “reflects national policy objectives and” and substitute “is consistent with national policies and measures, including those prepared pursuant to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, which”.

I move amendment No. 234: In page 74, line 36, after “including” to insert “integration of the National Biodiversity Action Plan and”.

I move amendment No. 236: In page 74, line 38, before “the” where it firstly occurs to insert “as appropriate,”.

I move amendment No. 240: In page 75, line 20, to delete “land use” and substitute “land-use”.