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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 May 1970

Vol. 247 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conservation Policy.

35.

asked the Minister for Lands what is the official policy of his Department with regard to co-operation with the corresponding Ministry of the Stormont Government in the activities associated with conservation year.

My Department is concerned with organising a domestic programme of activity in accordance with the recommendation of the Council of Europe. The Department will be glad to co-operate fully with the responsible Northern Ministry when suitable occasions arise.

Is the Minister aware that at a recent conference in Killarney attended by experts in conservation from different parts of Europe the invitation which was issued by his Department went only to Queen's University and the New Ulster University and that no invitation was sent to corresponding officials of the Ministry at Stormont and that there was considerable embarrassment on the part of his officials? When their counterparts at Stormont asked they could only indicate it was official policy.

This is news to me, because I was in Killarney and I met a very large number of people from Northern Ireland who were obviously there on invitation. I also know there has been considerable discussion between people interested in various aspects of conservation in Belfast and here in recent months. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that many of the bodies represented have their headquarters and are represented by organisations based in London who speak for the whole of the United Kingdom. Only a very small proportion of the societies involved have 32-County representation, although some of them do have, so this has possibly led to a situation which is new to me.

Would the Minister assure the House he will see that official invitations from his Department will go to the corresponding Ministry for future occasions such as the Killarney conference?

I want to assure the House there is complete co-operation between the two sides in regard to this whole matter of conservation, where the organisations involved are based in London and represent the United Kingdom or where they are based in this country and represent the 32 Counties. I shall have a look at what the Deputy has mentioned here today.

I do know there was disappointment on the part of officials of the Department of Agriculture in Belfast that they were not invited when the subjects to be discussed were within their province.

I was not aware of that.

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