Vol. 398 No. 1
96 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the danger of commercial depletion of the wild frog population in Ireland; the number of licences issued in the last nine years for the export of wild frogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am satisfied that the commercial exploitation of frogs does not pose any threat to conservation of the species. The numbers of licences issued in the last nine years to export frogs are as follows: 1981, 11; 1982, 12; 1983, 11; 1984, 13; 1985, 15; 1986, 16; 1987, 16; 1988, 16; 1989, 15.
I understand that the frogs are exported to various medical establishments where they are used for research purposes.
