Ba mhaith liom buíochas a thabhairt don Cheann Comhairle agus don Aire Stáit as ucht cead a thabhairt dom an cheist phráinneach seo a ardú anocht.
The brutal and illegal killing of at least 60 grey seals on Beg Inish, inis beag de na Blascaodaí i gCorca Dhuibhne, has shocked many people, including many fishermen. A text to me from one such fisherman read:
That was a sick attack on wildlife. Those who did it should be ashamed of themselves, that they cannot live and work alongside such free and intelligent creatures without killing them.
I live in a coastal community and when news of the slaughter reached fishermen there, the response was shock. Seals occupy a special place in the folklore of Irish people. Some families are even believed in legend to be related to seals, particularly in Connemara. The eyewitness account I am aware of counted 44 pups and 16 adult seals brutally killed. Post mortems have confirmed that some were shot or bludgeoned and a sharp instrument was driven through the head of one. The blatant cruelty of the outrage leads me to believe that those responsible are disturbed and need help. They must be apprehended. Given that the Garda station in Dingle is only open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., this investigation needs additional resources from outside the area. I ask the Minister of State to accept this and to provide the investigative help that is needed.
Meanwhile, there is no scientific census of the grey seal population around our coast. Brutal killings such as this and pollution are having an unquantifiable impact on this, the world's first protected species. It is also protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 and by several pieces of EU legislation. Any fisherman knows that overfishing and pollution are by far the real causes of depleted fish stocks. Any fisherman in Kerry knows that marine wildlife, whether Fungi the dolphin, seals, whales or other wildlife, attracts millions in tourist dollars to the region. This outrage is not just a blow to wildlife, it is damaging tourism.
The Northern Ireland authorities have recognised the tourism potential of the marine environment in Portaferry. A visit there will reveal how 100,000 visitors a year are attracted there to learn about marine life, from which all life evolved. The lack of a marine conservation centre in this part of the island makes us shamefully unique among European coastal countries. Let us address that glaring omission, on foot of these brutal killings.
Until now, dedicated and selfless volunteers in NGOs such as the Irish Seal Sanctuary have responded to calls for help from the Garda, local authorities and the public if sea mammals or birds were found injured, a pod of whales or school of dolphins was beached, oiled wildlife needed help or veterinary students required hands-on experience to learn about sea animals. Is it not obvious that Ireland, now more than ever, needs a marine conservation centre which could pay for itself in tourism revenue as does the centre in Portaferry?
Fingal County Council is currently acting on this need by supplying a site in the coastal fishing town of Balbriggan, where a disused Martello tower, old bathhouse, boathouse and slipway provide an ideal setting, close to a train station and just off the M1 motorway. As the Minister of State knows, the population of Balbriggan is expected to grow to more than 30,000, and it needs this facility, as does the whole country.
Balbriggan was last week the venue for an international conference on preparedness for oil spills affecting wildlife. Speakers included former Government Ministers from other EU coastal countries, as well as senior European Union officials. It was difficult to explain why an island nation's Government was so unaware of its marine environment and its responsibilities to it. For less than €2 million in capital funding, which the Government, through Fáilte Ireland could well justify under the category of projects to attract 100,000 visitors a year, this marine centre could be a reality.
The forthcoming budget is the third in which expectations for this funding will have been given by Government. I appeal to the Minister of State to use his influence to ensure this small investment is made in this project which is critical for marine tourism, education and conservation. Perhaps then, these 60 plus seals will not have died in vain.
