New advisory report unveiled that could guide Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan today (April 29) unveiled a major new report that could shape Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan.
The Independent Advisory Committee’s (IAC's) report - delivered after 15 months of work - sets out 94 recommendations to guide how Ireland will meet its obligations under the EU Nature Restoration Law.
It is understood that it could cost between €450–€700 million per year to implement the EU Nature Restoration Regulation in Ireland.
Nature restoration
The report also sets out seven general recommendations aimed at ensuring a successful implementation of the forthcoming plan, including three ‘priority’ recommendations:
- Funding nature restoration;
- Prioritising action on public lands;
- Supporting farmers, fishermen and foresters.
In addition to this, the report provides an analysis of Articles 4 to 13 of the EU Nature Restoration Law, which sets out legally binding targets to restore a wide range of ecosystems and species in EU member states.
The recommendations drew on the expertise of a multi-disciplinary group of independent experts who made up the 13-person committee.
It was chaired by Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and included members from a wide range of sectors, such as farming, fishing, forestry, local government, scientific, statutory agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
The IAC’s work also includes feedback from a public and stakeholder engagement processes that heard from over 1,000 people across the country through deliberative democracy-style leaders' forums and local, participatory community conversations.
This was in addition to regular engagement with technical groups comprising experts from government departments and agencies across the themes of land, sea, urban, and finance.
Minister O’Sullivan said: “I would like to thank and congratulate Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin and all the members of the Independent Advisory Committee for their extraordinary work in bringing these recommendations together.
“Ireland can be very proud of the approach we are taking to the development of our Nature Restoration Plan.
“We are working from the bottom up, listening to communities and engaging with key sectors, and collaborating across perspectives and positions to find a common ground for the future of nature in this country.”
He added: "It is to the immense credit of the chair and the membership that this common ground was not only found, but articulated so well. This is no easy task.
"We often hear of division between rural and urban Ireland, between environmentalists and farmers, between scientists and practitioners.
"I think that when we look back in years to come, this report will be seen as a key milestone in the bridging of those divides.”
The minister said that he is committed to ensuring that the IAC’s recommendations are delivered on through Ireland’s National Nature Restoration Plan and that the people of Ireland "can see and feel the benefits of restored and thriving nature for themselves.”
Extraordinary coming together
According to the chair of the Independent Advisory Committee, Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin, the work of the committee represented "an extraordinary coming together of diverse stakeholders" and represents a landmark process of collaboration.
“It has been a privilege to be part of this process and I would like to thank each member of the committee for their commitment and engagement over the past 15 months to come to these recommendations.
“Not only is nature an essential infrastructure asset and inherently valuable, but it is deeply connected with our language and national heritage, "she added.
Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin believes the Nature Restoration Law "presents an immense opportunity for farmers, foresters, fishermen, local authorities, communities and individuals".
Complex task
Meanwhile, the director general of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall O Donnchú, said the organisation is proud to lead "the all-of-government approach to the drafting of Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan".
“The development of the plan is a complex task, involving multiple government departments and agencies, as well a broad range of stakeholders.
"This approach provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all parties concerned – policy makers and citizens alike – to plot a course for the future of nature restoration in Ireland," he added.
The next stage in the process is that Minister O’Sullivan will consider the IAC’s recommendations as part of the ongoing preparation of the draft Nature Restoration Plan (NRP), which remains under development.
Ireland is required to submit its draft NRP to the European Commission by September 1, 2026, and from this point a 12-month dialogue with the commission will commence on the requirements of the regulation and Ireland’s proposed response to meet restoration targets to 2030, 2040, and 2050.
A four-week round of public consultation on the draft plan will begin at the end of May.
The final NRP will be submitted to the commission in September 2027 following its approval by cabinet.
