While I am around, the birds and the bees need not feel unprotected. I am sorry to say there are not many others like me in this House. I often wonder what the Green Party stands for.
I am amazed to read in the newspapers that Ireland is being sued by the European Union for not protecting wildlife habitats. I want the Minister to respond to the European Union's case. Apparently we are allowing the habitats of not just rare species but a whole series of wildlife species to be destroyed and the Government does not seem to be taking any corrective action. Will the Minister outline the action she intends to take?
Other western European countries which have adequate resources available to them — as Ireland should, particularly in these years — conduct a wildlife census. They know exactly the number of each species — blackbird, goldfinch, plover or whatever — in existence and how many are in danger. Ireland has no such system to identify which species is extinct, which is almost extinct and which needs protection. I am asking the Minister to set up a network to evaluate the species which are endangered and in need of protection. Armed with this information, she should protect those species. The British carry out an annual census of endangered species. They know the situation but here it is a case of hit and miss.
The classic example is the corncrake which is an endangered species. The number of corncrakes has been dropping year after year. I know that sanctuaries are being set up in the River Shannon basin and that it still exists in north County Donegal. I have heard it. However, the other day I heard a famous student of wildlife, who was being interviewed on radio, say that the number of corncrakes in north County Donegal has seriously declined in the past few years. That type of news is alarming.
The report in The Sunday Times which refers to the European Union's action against the Government states that species, such as the red grouse which we would have thought were common are endangered at present primarily due to over grazing by sheep. Heather is their natural food and it is the habitat which protects them from detection. It is being eaten away. Overgrazing is a serious problem. I have stated before that sheep farmers, particularly hill farmers, should be compensated for leaving a certain proportion of mountain and bogland areas on which wildlife could thrive. I know it will cost money but it is what the European Union and everyone who is interested in wildlife want.
It is not just the red grouse which is endangered. The merlin, the golden plover, and the hen harrier, all of which are beautiful species, are seriously endangered as, I am sure, are a series of others.
I am not blaming the Minister specifically because I have raised the matter with previous Ministers. The current Minister was here at the time and heard me. There has been no action.
There is an insufficient number of wildlife rangers. There is one in my county, which has two very large mountain ranges, moorland, hills and river basins. That is totally inadequate. I appeal to the Minister to be the first to do something definite about the matter to ensure our wildlife is not allowed become extinct, that we are not left with predators and scavengers, and that all the song birds and the lovelier parts of our heritage are retained.
I compliment people such as Mr. Dick Warner and Mr. Derek Mooney for the wonderful wildlife programmes which they are producing on radio——
