Minister O’Sullivan receives recommendations from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration
- Published on: 18 March 2026
- Last updated on: 18 March 2026
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has today (Wednesday March 18th) received the final report from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration (IAC) in a meeting with its Chairperson, Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin.
The report, which comprises a set of recommendations to the Minister to inform the development of Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, was developed over the last 15 months by a multi-disciplinary group of independent representatives from a range of sectors, including farming, fishing, forestry, local government, academia, statutory agencies and non-governmental organisations.
In formulating its recommendations, the IAC met a total of 15 times, hearing presentations from a wide range of key stakeholders and working closely with inter-departmental technical groups across Land, Sea, Urban and Finance.
Its work was also informed by a parallel public and stakeholder engagement programme that involved over 1,000 people. Six deliberative democracy-style Leaders’ Forums were held across the country on themes including Farming for the Future, Education, Urban, Marine and Land. In addition, 536 people participated in 10 in-person and two online Community Conversation events that were designed to put local communities at the heart.
Welcoming the recommendations, Minister O’Sullivan said:
“I would like to sincerely thank Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and all the members of the Independent Advisory Committee for their incredible work over the past 15 months. They have done us all – and the natural world – a huge service. We can be very proud of the participatory, bottom-up approach they took to the development of their recommendations and the deep listening that they engaged with across sectors and communities.
“Now, it’s my job to take their work forward. Over the coming weeks, I will be reading the recommendations in depth, engaging with colleagues across Government and working out the detail of how we use them. My goal is to develop an innovative, bold and ambitious plan to restore nature in Ireland and demonstrate how healthy ecosystems will benefit us all. I intend to publish the recommendations as soon as possible.”
Chair of the Independent Advisory Committee, Dr Ní Shúilleabháin, said:
“I’m delighted to present the outcomes of our work to the Minister today. It is the result of intensive collaboration among a diverse group of individuals, and I would like to pay tribute to each and every one of them for their commitment, insight and collegiality over the past 15 months. Restoring nature in Ireland means working together – across sectors, disciplines and perspectives – and I’m proud that the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration has exemplified this collaborative spirit and unity of purpose in its work. I’m also proud of the deep and broad public and stakeholder engagement process that has underpinned it. It’s essential that the voices of all communities are heard and reflected in what will ultimately be a transformative policy for the lands, seas, rivers, towns – and indeed the people – of Ireland.”
ENDS
More information about the IAC and its membership is available here: https://www.restorenature.ie/committee