asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the manner, frequency and extent of the census of wildlife and, in particular, of endangered species, which is carried out by his Department; and the number of personnel engaged on this work.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wildlife Protection.
15.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Priority in this sector is dictated by known conservation requirements, including recommendations thereon emanting from the Wildlife Advisory Council and the work is undertaken according as resources permit. In the circumstances it would not be practicable to monitor the total number and variety of wildlife species — fauna and flora — which occur in Ireland but protected fauna for which recent population counts have been carried out include the Greenland Whitefronted Goose, the grey seal and the Peregrine Falcon.
Apart from the involvement of wildlife rangers and temporary personnel, the number of departmental staff engaged in wildlife census work is nine but, of course, this work would represent only part of the overall duties of the officers concerned. Certain voluntary bodies also co-operate with my Department in census work.
Does the Minister agree that the matter in which the census was carried out was very haphazard? I gave some information to Deputy Power that the seals were actually counted from spotter planes rather than from the sea or land. Has the Minister any proposals to increase the number of nine personnel in his Department who engage in this work? Has he any proposals to carry out a census of all endangered species?
(Cavan-Monaghan): The various species of wildlife is quite numerous.
What about the endangered species?
(Cavan-Monaghan): The endangered species are also quite numerous.
(Interruptions.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): As far as the endangered species are concerned, the Wildlife Act came into force in 1976 and has been having teething problems since. It would be saying something that I do not believe to pretend that there is adequate personnel to implement the Act in detail. I will have a look at the whole matter raised by the Deputy and, consistent with reasonableness and availability of finance, I will do what I can.
Would the Minister agree that the wildlife rangers recruited some years ago have done very good work at local level, even though they are very thin on the ground, and that now is the time to recruit more of them?
(Cavan-Monaghan): About 50 were appointed over the years and I agree they are doing excellent work.
16.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the measures his Department take to protect the species of wildlife which are deemed to be endangered under the Wildlife Act, 1976.
(Cavan-Monaghan): My Department exercise a wide variety of functions in administering the control and licensing provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1976, and are also implementing a programme of habitat conservation in the interest of species protection.
In so far as enforcement of the Act is concerned, the Department have appointed 49 wildlife rangers and, in the case of State forest property, some 500 forester personnel have been duly authorised to enforce the Act. Members of the Garda Síochána are, of course, also empowered to ensure compliance with the Act.
Has the Minister any figures regarding the number of prosecutions taken against people who injured or killed endangered species?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I have not got those figures. If the Deputy would like to have that information, I will get it and send it to him.
17.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the action he proposes to take to implement the Wildlife Act, 1976; the reports that have been presented to him; and the prosecutions or investigations that can be anticipated following the brutal slaughter of grey seals off the Mullet Peninsula in County Mayo.
18.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he intends to take any action against those responsible for the recent massacre of grey seals off the coast of County Mayo; and the steps he intends to take to ensure that a similar incident does not recur.
(Cavan-Monaghan): I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
As the House will no doubt be aware, I have already publicly deplored the recent unauthorised killing of seals on the Inishkea Islands and adjacent areas off the Mayo coast. I have also appealed for local public co-operation in helping the Garda and my Department towards identifying the culprits.
Last Sunday, at my request, departmental officials, assisted by some outside experts, carried out a special survey of the islands to make an on the spot assessment of the situation in the wake of the killings and to treat any seals which had been left wounded or helpless. Fortunately, those animals which they found were in good condition and did not require treatment.
I am having the general situation in relation to seals fully examined with a view to taking all practicable measures to avoid a repetition of the recent unhappy incident. In this context I will be looking to co-operation by fishermen in the implementation, within the Wildlife Act, of a lawful system of control so as to minimise seal damage to fish.
The Minister is to be congratulated on ordering the survey last Sunday. He deserves the gratitude of all of us for that. In view of the fact that the brutal killings to which he referred are a repetition of such behaviour two years ago, would he not agree that there is an urgent need for some education programme on the provisions of the Wildlife Act? It is hard to believe that the Act has been in existence since 1976 and we had these killings in 1979 and repeated in 1981. Would the Minister not agree that there is need for an education programme for the public on the provisions of the Wildlife Act and in particular as it affects protected species.
(Cavan-Monaghan): We have literature and a booklet in my Department dealing with the Wildlife Act. There is one particular booklet which—
It is a very good little booklet.
I published it.
I have been aware of the existence of that little booklet since 1976. In view of the manner in which the seals were killed, which is an indictment of us all, would the Minister not consider it a matter of urgency that some public seminar or some public programme should be organised by his Department to draw attention to the inhumane way in which the seals were killed? I hope the Minister is not suggesting that the existence of the booklet is sufficient. If it could not stop people killing seals twice in two years, How can it be regarded as sufficient? It was a brutal form of killing. What does the Minister propose to do about it?
(Cavan-Monaghan): I agree with the Deputy. The publicity which has been given to this wanton act and might I take this opportunity to congratulate the Wildlife Confederation on the part they played in publicising it—will do a great deal of good. I have been considering how I can help. I am advised that the most vulnerable season for these animals is the pupping season in the months of October and November. Perhaps it would be possible to mount a little campaign to draw the attention of the general public and the people in the area to that fact. All this will be considered in the context of the report for which I have asked.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
Will the Minister—
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude.
——invite the inshore salmon fishermen to meet him to ensure that there will be a peaceable orderly improvement in the situation?
Lest any false impression might be created, would the Minister not agree that the forestry and wildlife service of his Department carry out excellent comprehensive educational programmes for the general public and in the schools? Would he agree that it would be wrong to convey the impression that nothing is done to educate the public about the Wildlife Act?
(Cavan-Monaghan): Whoever may have given that impression it was not I.
It was not my suggestion either.
Deputy Higgins is trying to climb on a bandwagon.
I put down amendments to the Bill before Deputy Haughey developed an interest in it.
(Cavan-Monaghan): The leader of the Opposition is jealous.
Deputy Higgins does not know what he is talking about.