Submissions
Submissions to the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss
The Assembly will begin consideration of the submissions in September in advance of the weekend meetings in September and October. We would therefore be grateful if you could send us any submissions before then, although we will be open to receiving them until the conclusion of the process in November.
To make a submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, you can use one of these three options:
To read submissions already received click here
How we will use the Information that you share
- Subject to relevant legal provisions, we will publish all relevant submissions on our website including full names (first name, surname and name of organisation where relevant).
- We will not accept anonymous submissions.
- We will redact or remove sensitive/personal information if this is requested. If you believe your submission falls into this category please indicate this clearly on your submission
- We will not publish names of individuals under 18 if this is requested.
- We reserve the right not to accept a submission if it is deemed offensive, inappropriate or not relevant to the work of the Assemblies.
- Content from the submissions may be cited or quoted in reports prepared for the Assembly meetings.
Guidance on submissions
Submissions can be as brief or detailed as you wish. However, we would encourage you to focus your submission on the issues of central concern to the Citizens’ Assembly. These issues are set out in the Terms of Reference, below.
Terms of Reference for the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss (as prescribed by Dáil and Seanad Éireann, February 2022)
The Terms of Reference of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss are as follows:
A Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, with a total of 100 members including an independent Chairperson and 99 randomly-selected members of the public, shall be convened to examine how the State can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss, and to bring forward proposals in that regard
The Assembly shall consider, inter alia:
- the international, European, national, regional and local dimensions to the biodiversity emergency;
- the threats presented by biodiversity loss and the opportunities to reverse this loss;
- the main drivers of biodiversity loss, their impacts and the opportunity of addressing these drivers;
- the perspectives of the general public, representative groups, advocacy groups, experts and policy makers on biodiversity loss, and its impact on Ireland;
- opportunities to develop greater policy coherence and strategic synergies between biodiversity policy and other policy priorities including, but not limited to, economic development, climate action, sustainable development, agriculture and tourism;
- opportunities to promote greater public understanding of, and support for, urgent action in response to the biodiversity emergency; and
- opportunities to improve the State’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss, how that response can best be resourced and implemented in a strategic and coordinated manner, and how progress can be measured.
