A proposal for a citizen’s assembly on biodiversity to help policymakers urgently address Ireland’s biodiversity crisis will be brought to cabinet by Taoiseach Michael Martin and could be established as early as April, Cork South West Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan says.
Responding to Deputy O’Sullivan’s call to urgently convene the citizen’s assembly, the Taoiseach told the Dáil he would bring proposals for convening the body to cabinet.
“I do intend to bring to Cabinet shortly proposals for a citizen’s assembly on biodiversity,” Mr Martin said on Wednesday.
“I think it’s absolutely critical that we move on this and with speed and conviction and I intend to do that.”
It’s expected the citizens assembly could convene as early as April or May this year.
In calling for the assembly on Wednesday, Deputy O’Sullivan highlighted the loss of 81% of Ireland’s wetland species over the past 50 years. Meanwhile, 54 individual bird species had been red listed, meaning they are endangered, he said.
“We need to convene a citizen's assembly now because we need to start addressing this biodiversity crisis straight away,” Deputy O’Sullivan said.
“Biodiversity, nature, wildlife right across the globe is in peril, and nowhere more so than right here in Ireland.”
