Vol. 337 No. 1
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will specify the preservation orders, if any, that are in existance in respect of the Bull Island, Dublin city; whether such orders have been infringed; and, if so, the steps he is taking in the matter.
12.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he is aware that developments are currently being carried out on the Bull Island wildfowl sanctuary by the St. Anne's golf course, County Dublin, which may have the effect of seriously damaging the nature and extent of the sanctuary with a consequent impact upon the survival of many species who use the sanctuary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
I would appreciate if the Minister of State, and all Ministers, would eliminate that part of their reply, "with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle," because it gets me into trouble. It is only necessary to say that you are taking two questions together and eliminate the remainder. It has no meaning.
I propose to take Questions Nos 11 and 12 together.
I am aware that for some time negotiations have been taking place between Dublin Corporation and St. Anne's Golf Club on the question of an extension of the club's golf course on North Bull Island. In that context, discussions involving the corporation, the golf club and a number of private conservation interests have been held with a view to ensuring the conservation of ecological values arising from the proposed extension. As a result, proposals which will permit the golf club to develop an area of the island which is of little ecological importance have been formulated and agreed to by all interested parties. It remains for these proposals to be approved by Dublin City Council.
As far as my Department are concerned, no specific orders in relation to the Bull Island have been made under the Wildlife Act, 1976 but the area is excluded from the provisions of the open seasons orders in relation to the hunting of game species. This factor — together with the general protection for wild birds, other than pest species, under the Wildlife Act — means that for practical purposes the area is a wildlife sanctuary. Some progress has also been made between my Department and Dublin Corporation with a view to the recognition, by way of an order under section 16 of the Wildlife Act, of an appropriate area on the island as a statutory nature reserve.
Who are the interested parties the Minister says are satisfied with the arrangements? Do they include voluntary bodies such as An Taisce or the Dublin Naturalists' Field Group? Does it include voluntary bodies outside of the official ones the Minister mentioned?
As far as I know those involved at present are An Foras Forbartha, Dublin Corporation and the Department of Fisheries and Forestry.
Does the Minister appreciate that all three bodies mentioned are arms or legs of the State in one shape or form? Have voluntary organisations interested in this area of government signified their satisfaction with the arrangements which the Minister's Department are making?
Yes, they have.
If I get a letter in the post tomorrow or the next day from some constituents — I have had several — who are apprehensive about the future of Bull Island and complaining about the situation, does that mean they are not representative of the voluntary bodies to which they belong?
An agreement was reached quite recently. Perhaps the constituents were in touch with the Deputy before the agreement was reached. The Deputy probably read about the agreement in the newspapers.
I hope the Minister is correct.
Will the submissions of the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, which is the body with the best reputation in relation to the number of wild birds using areas such as Bull Island, be borne in mind in the settlement to which the Minister referred?
I will bear that in mind.
