Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Areas of Conservation.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

277 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the composition of the independent board appointed by her and chaired by former Ombudsman, Mr. Michael Mills, to consider all appeals by individuals affected by the designation of special areas of conservation; when the board will have completed its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14272/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The SAC appeals committee will have an independent chairman, Mr. Michael Mills, and equal representation from landowners-users and conservation NGOs. Depending on the nature of the appeal to be heard, membership of the Committee will be drawn from the list of nominees and alternate members received by my Department and set out in the table below.

Member	Alternate	Nominated by
Mr. Michael O'Donoghue	Mr. Michael Holmes	IFA
	Mr. Michael Deenihan
	Mr. Paddy Halligan
	Mr. Richie Flynn
Mr. John O'Connor	Mr. John Enright	ICMSA
Dr. Mary Kelly, Environment Executive, IBEC	Ms Margaret Stokes, Environment Health and Safety Manager, Minorco	IBEC
	Mr. Gerry McNally, Land Development Manager, Bord na Móna
	Mr. John McLoughlin, Environmental Officer, Coillte Teo
Mr. Desmond Crofton, National Association of Regional Game Councils	Mr. David Hickie, An Taisce	Conservation NGOs
Ms Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch Europe Network
Mr. Ralph Sheppard, Birdwatch Ireland	Dr. Peter Foss, Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Mr. John Murphy, Birdwatch Ireland
Dr. J. Reynolds, Irish Wildlife Trust
	Dr. Declan Doogue, Irish Wildlife Trust

In addition to the above nominations, I am anxious that specifically local involvement be effectively accommodated, and I will shortly be meeting the farming organisations to clarify this matter.

I expect the appeals committee to commence its work shortly. It is not clear at this point when the committee will conclude its deliberations, as this will depend on the complexity of the issues arising, the time needed to dispose of each case, and the extent of additional information or investigation the committee may consider necessary.