Year in, year out I continue to raise this matter without receiving any response whatsoever. I am talking about the wholesale destruction of wildlife habitats in this country.
I raised this question originally this year in the middle of the nesting season. That was in April last when I tabled a question to the Minister for Finance. My question was not totally honest because I tabled it in the name of Deputy Timmins since my own quota for questions on Finance had been virtually exhausted that day. The answer given to the question was so irrelevant and insufficient I felt I had to raise it in the House on the Adjournment. My question referred to wildlife habitats in general, bird nesting in particular, and the destruction of the specific areas in which these wildlife species breed.
The reply consisted of five different parts, the first referring to all the protection afforded wildlife in our national parks. That does not consist even of 5 per cent of the total area of the country. The second part of the reply stated that the Office of Public Works, whose responsibility it is to protect wildlife, do so in conjunction with landowners. That is a complete misnomer since that does not happen. The third part of the reply refers to something of which we have all long been aware, which is that one cannot light fires within a mile of any forestry. This law has obtained since the year of dot. It was not the information I was seeking in my question.
The fourth part of the reply stated that, under section 40 of the Wildlife Act, it is an offence to destroy, by burning or otherwise between 15 April and 31 August, vegetation grown on any land not being cultivated for agriculture or forestry.
There is no control in regard to the burning or cutting of vegetation, be it hedgerows or other habitats. Never have I seen such destruction as I saw this year during the bird nesting and breeding season when mountain sides were set alight, particularly in the month of April and the first two weeks of May when vegetation was dry. It is a disgrace that we are not protecting wildlife habitats. As a result entire species are being destroyed. Because of our neglect the 1976 Wildlife Act means nothing; it is not worth the paper it is written on. If we are not prepared to implement the law we would be better off scrapping it.
We speak about interpretative centres in Mullaghmore and other areas but because of our neglect the most valuable part of our heritage is being wilfully destroyed. I am raising the matter in the House today to have a stop put to this. First and foremost, the wildlife section should not be operating under the auspices of the Department of Finance but rather the Department of the Environment. A realistic effort should be made to safeguard wildlife because entire species of song birds and other wildlife are being wiped out. These include the skylark, grouse, woodcock and other birds which live in rough woodland, undergrowth and on the mountain side. As things stand they do not have a chance because of our neglect.
I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher who is deputising for the Minister for Finance, to do something. I am aware that it is the intention of the Government to amend the Wildlife Act but these amendments could just be as worthless. The Minister of State should see to it that wildlife is protected because at present no back-up services are provided. The legislation has had no effect. I want us to reach a stage where wildlife is genuinely protected.