Green Party candidate slams MEPs who voted against nature law

Green Party MEP candidate Pauline O’Reilly has slammed the two MEPs in the Midlands Northwest constituency who voted today to stall the Nature Restoration Law in the European parliament.

The Nature Restoration Law, which will require countries to restore at least 20 % of the their land and sea areas by 2030, was passed by 329 votes to 275 in a vote in the European parliament.

Independent MEP Ming Flanagan and Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus who are both from the Midlands Northwest constituency voted against the measure. They were the only Irish MEPs to vote against the measure.

Speaking today O’Reilly said, “it is a good day for nature but a shameful day for our region, with Sinn Féin and Luke Ming Flanagan voting against Nature Restoration Law today.

"On top of all this, Fianna Fáil Barry Cowen has worryingly suggested that environmental action is going too fast.

"These people do not represent us, they do not represent the future of farming and are in the danger of leaving Midlands Northwest behind again as we fight for a sustainable future," she argued.