Vol. 543 No. 4
6 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will restrict the licensing of hunting weapons to members of bona fide hunting organisations, as is required in Scandinavia, to ensure effective conservation of protected species and proper records of species hunted. [27081/01]
The licensing of weapons per se is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform under the Firearms Acts. I have responsibility for the issue of hunting licences under the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended. There is no evidence to indicate that regulated hunting in Ireland adversely impacts on the conservation status of protected species.
The restriction of the issue of hunting licences only to those who are members of bone fide hunting organisations would require additional legislation and may not be tenable from a legal viewpoint. However, I am satisfied that the current suite of legislative measures available to me under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 and 2000, enable me to ensure the conservation of protected species. For example, orders made by me under the Wildlife Acts set out the range of protected species which may be hunted, the periods for which they can be hunted and the means that can be used to hunt them. These orders are reviewed annually following consultation with interested parties and the terms of the orders can be and are adjusted if necessary.
Section 37 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 enables me to make regulations regarding evidence of competency from individuals seeking licences to hunt protected wild birds or mammals. Section 29(10) of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended, enables me to request holders of licences to furnish details of numbers of wild birds and animals shot. While I request deer hunters to include details of deer shot in the previous season in their application for a licence, I do not consider it necessary to request hunters of protected birds to submit such details at present. I am satisfied that the hunting control measures currently in place are sufficient to ensure the conservation of protected species.
