asked the Minister for Lands if he will give details of all the endangered species of animals within the State; and the steps he is taking to prevent their extinction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Endangered Animal Species.
39.
Cavan): There are no animal species within the State which my Department would regard as in danger of extinction.
The Wildlife Bill, 1974, which has been circulated contains provisions which would enable me as Minister for Lands to prescribe protection measures in the event of a threat to any particular species.
I was very glad to receive the Bill, which will take a while to debate. Does the Minister seriously believe there is no species in danger?
(Cavan): That is my information. If the Deputy has any particular species in mind and if he will put down a separate question, I will deal with it.
What about Ministers for Labour?
The question refers specifically to endangered species of animals. Does that include birds?
(Cavan): I would not think so.
Could the Minister give us the same assurance about species of birds being in danger in any event?
(Cavan): If the Deputy will put down a separate question I will have that problem fully investigated.
I would have thought that, as the Minister was preparing a Wildlife Bill, he would have that information off the top of his head.
(Cavan): I will deal with that when we are discussing wildlife.
40.
asked the Minister for Lands if he is aware of concern among some groups that the hare may become extinct; and, if so, if he has any proposals to deal with this problem.
(Cavan): While local fluctuations of hare populations are of common occurrence, there is no evidence of which I am aware that the species is threatened with extinction.
Would the Minister agree that the reason for the introduction of the Wildlife Bill is that there are such threats? Otherwise there would not be the same need for the wildlife legislation.
(Cavan): I would not agree that that automatically follows. It is one of the aspects that would be taken into consideration in preparing the Bill but it does not mean that threats of extinction are already in existence.
I thought the Bill was to provide against that?
(Cavan): Of course it is, generally.
Would the Minister accept that very many years of consideration and study were put in before this Bill emerged and that the whole idea behind the matter was that there are certain species in danger, at any rate, if not threatened with extinction?
(Cavan): That is not my information.
The remain-questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.