A new report lays bare Ireland\u2019s dismal record on nature restoration and the failure of successive governments to protect our environment, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s environment spokesperson, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration reveals that 90 per cent of our protected habitats are in unfavourable conservation condition, and that the Government will need to invest hundreds of millions of euros to support farmers, fishers and foresters to protect the environment. This confirms what I have been saying for some time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Government is continuing the appalling record of previous administrations when it comes to nature restoration and is failing our environment on so many levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), for example, has not translated into ecological protection, with many being nothing more than paper parks. The Government is yet to introduce the long promised Marine Protected Areas Bill, and in the meantime we have been left with MPAs that lack enforcement, management plans or legally binding restrictions, which is a huge problem and cannot be allowed to continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland has committed internationally to protecting 30 per cent of its seas by 2030, and we are lagging behind with less than 10 per cent achieved to date.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland is one of the lowest ranking countries in the world for intact biodiversity. Back in 2024, I expressed concern that 85 per cent of EU-protected habitats were in unfavourable conditions \u2013 a situation that is now even worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite declared biodiversity and climate emergencies, we spend the lowest share of GDP in the EU on nature. The Government is acting too slowly and not allocating sufficient resources to combat these challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government must act urgently on the stark findings of today\u2019s report. We need immediate intervention, not more empty commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n
April 29, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new report lays bare Ireland\u2019s dismal record on nature restoration and the failure of successive governments to protect our environment, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s environment spokesperson, said: \u201cThe report from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration reveals that 90 per cent of our protected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7398,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[517,727,268,562,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biodiversity","category-environment","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-nature-restoration","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n