Vol. 548 No. 2
343 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will outline, further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 907 to 911 of 30 January 2002, the reason, despite not being regulated under S.I. No. 307 of 1977, a person (details supplied) in County Limerick was refused permission to import spring trap and gin trap. [4513/02]
I refer further to my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 907 to 911, inclusive, of 30 January 2002.
The Deputy is incorrect to suggest that spring traps and gin traps are not regulated under S.I. No. 307 of 1977. The position is that the use, possession and importation of traps is regulated under the wildlife Acts – section 34 of the 1976 Act, as amended – by the Wildlife Act, 1976, (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations, 1977 and S.I. No. 307 of 1977. Under section 2(a)(i) of these regulations, gin traps are not approved traps for the purposes of section 34(6) of the Wildlife Act, 1976. Section 2 of the regulations also sets out the parameters by which spring traps may be considered as approved traps for the purpose of section 34(6) of the Wildlife Act, 1976. Section 34(6) of the Wildlife Act, 1976 makes it an offence to import, other than pursuant to and in accordance with a licence granted by me as Minister, any trap snare or net to which section 2 of the Wildlife Act, 1976. (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations, 1977", S.I. No. 307 of 1977, does not apply.
