Many thanks to the Irish Environmental Network for a positive, engaging, and productive conversation today. I was delighted to introduce the National Parks & Wildlife Service's new senior team, 4/5 of whom are women. It's wonderful to see so many female leaders across public and NGO sectors working for #nature.
We discussed many topics, including our renewal plans for the NPWS, the upcoming Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity, Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan, protections for the Basking Shark, the Peatlands Strategy, and turf cutting, among others.
We also talked about engagement, and how I and my Department can do better to work with and support the nature NGOs to achieve their objectives. I'm really looking forward to continued dialogue and collaboration over the coming year - 2022 is going to be a big year for nature.