Biodiversity is practically extinct in ministers' budget pronouncements 

Biodiversity got its first official outing of the day at 6.30pm in a welcome press release announcing significant funding of €47m for the National Parks and Wildlife Service

The evidence is clear and incontrovertible – Ireland's bird species are in grave danger, ecosystems are collapsing, and Ireland has repeatedly been referred to the European Court of Justice for failures in conservation measures. Picture: Ruth Wilson.

The words "biodiversity crisis" were conspicuous by their absence from the two ministerial speeches during Budget 2022 and a Department of Environment briefing with another minister and two junior ministers afterwards.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe declared the "the world is burning" as he addressed the "most pressing issue of our time", while Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said the "evidence of the climate crisis is clear for all to see".