John Ellis
Question:76 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of tourist shooters who visited Ireland in each of the years from 1990 to 1996. [21370/96]
Written Answers. - Tourist Numbers.
John Ellis
Question:77 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the criteria used in granting shooting days; and the way in which the carrying capacity of different lands is ascertained and calculated. [21371/96]
John Ellis
Question:78 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the current position regarding the application of promoters of tourist shooters; and if his Department checks folio numbers or titles to ascertain whether promoters have shooting rights over the lands named. [21372/96]
John Ellis
Question:80 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if complaints have been received by officials of his Department in relation to tourist shooting; and if so, the number of such complaints. [21374/96]
John Ellis
Question:81 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the supervision, if any, employed in ensuring that tourist shooters obey the relevant regulations and laws involved in the shooting of game and, in particular, under the Wildlife Act. [21375/96]
John Ellis
Question:82 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the names and organisations of those who have sought tourist permits in counties Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Longford and Cavan. [21376/96]
John Ellis
Question:83 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his policy regarding tourist shooting; and the discussions, if any, he has had with other interested bodies, such as Bord Fáilte and the various non-Governmental organisations representing game and sporting gun members. [21377/96]
John Ellis
Question:84 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of tourist shooting day permits issued in each of the years from 1990 to 1995. [21378/96]
John Ellis
Question:89 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the revenue generated by the issue of tourist shooting licences or permits in respect of each of the past six years. [21391/96]
Tóghfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 agus 89 le chéile.
The number of tourist shooters who visited this country in each of the years from 1990 to 1996 is reflected in the number of firearm certificates which were issued to non-residents for each of these years. The provision of such details is a matter for the Minister for Justice.
In regard to (1) the criteria used in granting shooting days, (2) the way in which the carrying capacity of different lands is calculated (3) whether folio numbers or titles are checked and (4) the supervision of tourist shooters, the position is that commercial shoot operators are required to submit details of their shooting rights to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department so that these can be assessed to determine the "gunday" carrying capacity of the lands in question and hunting licences are granted with reference to these assessments. Each application is considered on its merits. Applicants must satisfy the NPWS that they have permission of the landowner to shoot. In some cases, at the discretion of the regional manager, checking of permissions may include checking of folio numbers. For more information on these matters I refer the Deputy to the Official Reports as follows: (a) 11 May 1994, Volume 442 No. 6, columns 1255-1258; (b) 31 May 1994, Volume 443 No. 4, columns 779-781; (c) 24 April 1995, Volume 451 No. 8, columns 1818-1820; (d) 14 February 1996, Volume 461 No. 5, columns 1297-1301; and (e) 20 February 1996, Volume 461 No. 7, column 1892.
Complaints received by the NPWS are investigated and, where appropriate, prosecution proceedings are initiated under the Wildlife Act, 1976. Details of the number of complaints are not available but I have directed the NPWS to record details of all specific written complaints made as and from 1 January 1997.
It is not the practice to publish details of individual visitors or of commercial shoot operators and/or their clients as such information is considered personal and commercially sensitive.
With regard to my policy on tourist shooting, I made a presentation to a meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs on 20 February last. The presentation outlined the general background on the conservation of game species, particularly migratory species, and set out the procedure for issuing hunting licences to non-resident hunters. I am arranging to have a copy of my presentation forwarded to the Deputy. Neither I nor my Department has had discussions with Bord Fáilte regarding tourist shooting in recent years. Both I and my Department have had a number of meetings with the National Association of Regional Game Councils and the NPWS have met various regional game councils and gun clubs.
The number of "gundays" allocated for each of the last four hunting seasons is set out below. The figures for 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 are not available.
|
Hunting Season |
Number of “gundays” Allocated |
|
1993-1994 |
8,474 |
|
1994-1995 |
10,211 |
|
1995-1996 |
11,527 |
|
1996-1997 (to date) |
9,135 |
There are no charges for section 29 hunting licences or section 30 permits issued under the Wildlife Act, 1976. Fees for firearm certificates are a matter for the Minister for Justice.