Vol. 546 No. 4
19 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if, in view of the important work being undertaken by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, she will consider making funding available to assist with the proposed development of a seven acre site in north County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31820/01]
47 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the wildlife conservation work which the Irish Seal Sanctuary has carried out in relation to endangered species from Ireland and from elsewhere which made their way here; and if she will allocate capital funding to the sanctuary. [31913/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 47 together.
As these are two oral questions not more than 12 minutes will be allotted.
My Department has received a number of applications for funding from the Irish Seal Sanctuary. The Irish Seal Sanctuary has made many approaches in the past for aid in running its existing facility at Garristown and for the provision of a new facility at Rogerstown. I met some time ago with representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary at their request to discuss their future plans for the sanctuary and officials from my Department later examined their draft development plan. I am advised that this examination shows that the work of the Irish Seal Sanctuary involves the rehabilitation of injured or distressed seals and caters for a relatively small number of injured seals and that the main thrust of the proposal is to provide for the welfare of a small number of individual animals rather than dealing with the conservation of the overall seal population.
I have made it clear on previous occasions that my responsibility under the Wildlife Acts is to protect seals and other species to ensure the conservation of the species as a whole. I am not responsible for the welfare of individual animals. The work of the Irish Seal Sanctuary is of a welfare nature and, as such, does not come within the remit of my Department. While I recognise the work carried out by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, such work does not, from a conservation point of view, impact significantly on overall seal numbers. The overall conservation context is that seals are not endangered in Irish waters. The estimated total population between Britain and Ireland of both common and grey seals is circa 210,000. In these circumstances there is no justification on conservation grounds for the provision of funding by my Department to the Irish Seal Sanctuary for this proposal.
I thank the Minister for her reply. The Irish Seal Sanctuary has dealt in the past with many endangered species and plays a critical role in the area of wildlife conservation, which comes under the remit of her Department. I ask the Minister to take into account that the sanctuary has available to it a unique body of experience which is not available anywhere else in the country. Local authorities often make use of its services. Will she use her influence to ensure the promises made to the Irish Seal Sanctuary to the effect that, because its work is recognised, it will receive the £1.8 million capital funding required? Fingal County Council has already provided a site for the new development. Will the Minister, who indicated that it is not her job to assist the sanctuary, ensure that this project does not fall by the wayside?
The Irish Seal Sanctuary has dealt with many species, native and non-native, such as tigers and rare mammals indigenous to these shores. I accept that its work with seals is largely responsible for the sanctuary's public appeal. Will the Minister support the work being done by the sanctuary, which goes beyond caring for seals?
I recognise the commitment Deputy Sargent has shown to the Irish Seal Sanctuary. He and other Members have tabled questions about this matter on many occasions. I have always been consistent in stating I can only deal with matters of conservation and I do not believe that the numbers of seals cared for by the sanctuary would warrant my intervening on a conservation basis. Many Members believe this is a matter of animal welfare. However, animal welfare is not my responsibility. It is not a question of my kicking for touch on this matter; it is simply not contemplated under the Wildlife Act. My responsibilities in this area relate only to conservation. I have never made any promises in respect of funding because I would not be in a position to provide such funding in view of the fact that this matter does not come under my Department's remit.
Who has responsibility for it?
Does the Minister agree that dismissing the notion of providing funding for the Irish Seal Sanctuary on the basis that its work is animal welfare oriented is an admission that she does not see the complete picture? The work of the sanctuary comprises heritage, educational and tourism aspects. Does she agree that we should not be proud of the fact that Ireland is the only coastal nation which does not have an official seal sanctuary? Next year is designated the year of ecotourism and, contingent on the provision of funding, an education centre is to be opened at the Irish Seal Sanctuary. Bearing that in mind, will the Minister not take the initiative and encourage other relevant Ministers to put together a package which would ensure the future of this important facility?
It is not a question of dismissing the work that has been done by the Irish Seal Sanctuary. I have taken the opportunity to recognise that work on a number of occasions. It comes down to the remit of my Department. We are not talking of tourism and education. The only aspect under consideration is conservation. The seal population, I am glad to say, does not necessitate intervention on the basis of conservation. That is the only basis on which I could become involved.
It is not just seals.
(Dublin West): Does the Minister accept that the excellent work of the Irish Seal Sanctuary not only contributes to conservation of the seal species but engenders a very fine respect for nature generally and the habitats around our coasts? Does she accept that creatures other than seals can be vulnerable? In view of that will she heed our warnings of the real danger of the permanent closure of the Irish Seal Sanctuary which would be regretted by a very large percentage of people? Does she know the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach have been lobbied on this? Will she make arrangements for funding from them as well as from her own Department?
No one would wish to see the Irish Seal Sanctuary closed because its work is very much appreciated, a fact I do not have to underline here. However, it comes down to the remit and responsibility of my Department. It is known that the Irish Seal Sanctuary does very good work, but its work relates to animal welfare for which I have no responsibility. Animal welfare is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. My concern is conservation and that issue does not arise at this time.
Does the Minister agree that the release of the golden eagles in Donegal had both a welfare and a conservation aspect, and that there is an overlap of common interests between her Department and other Departments which include conservation, education, welfare and tourism, given the many fine sites for which Dúchas has responsibility? Would she, therefore, accept that the Irish Seal Sanctuary has a much greater remit than its name suggests because of the dependence on its expertise which many local authorities have when, as often happens, very rare species are brought to them in need of care? Would she therefore spearhead the cross-Departmental approach which is needed to ensure this centre does not close and the expertise which has been built up scattered to the four winds and lost, perhaps, to other countries that value the work of such a sanctuary?
Will the Minister give an undertaking to consult with her colleagues at the next Council of Ministers meeting to find out how national seal sanctuaries are funded in other member states?
On Deputy O'Shea's question, it would be interesting to know how other countries approach this issue. However, we must deal with our own legislation, which, in terms of the Wildlife Act which I initiated in this House and brought to fruition, is very up to date. Deputy Sargent raised the question of the golden eagles. That was a project I was very pleased to support because it will be wonderful to be able to reintroduce the golden eagle to Donegal and to Ireland. We are, of course, talking about conservation first and foremost. Although there will be many projects which will incorporate heritage, tourism and education, for my Department to have any responsibility, the premise of any of these projects must be based on conservation. It was very clear that was the issue in the example given by Deputy Sargent of the golden eagles. It is not the position with regard to seals.
