Brian O'Shea
Question:63 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the areas the wildlife conservation Bill will address; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2832/99]
Written Answers. - Wildlife (Amendment) Bill.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:72 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the priorities in relation to the wildlife amendment Bill; the date for publication; the reason for the delay in its publication; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2809/99]
Togfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 63 agus Uimh. 72 le chéile.
I refer the Deputies to my previous replies – in particular my replies to Question No. 771 of 27 Eanáir 1999 and Question No. 641 of 30 Meán Fómhair 1998 – which set out the position in regard to the proposed Wildlife (Amendment) Bill.
The main objectives of the Bill, which is at a very advanced stage of preparation, are:
(a)to provide statutory protection for natural heritage areas (NHAs);
(b)to improve laws for the protection of wildlife species and their habitats;
(c)to ensure compliance with international agreements, in particular the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES);
(d)to give statutory protection under wildlife legislation to geological and geomorphological sites; and
(e)to increase substantially monetary fines for contravention of wildlife legislation and to introduce prison sentences in addition to those fines.
I can assure the Deputies that, as stated in my reply of 27 Eanáir last, every effort is being made, in co-operation with the Office of the Attorney General, to ensure that the Bill will be published at the earliest possible date.