Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
622 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will report on the slaughtering of seals in Kerry and on the follow-up investigation which is under way; and if he will make a statement on the need for a rescue service for seals at risk. [28661/04]
View answerIn response to reports of an unlawful killing of seals, gardaí, accompanied by officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, of my Department and from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, as well as by a veterinary expert, visited Beginish, one of the Blasket Islands, on 5 November 2004. On the island they found 51 dead grey seals — eight adults and 43 pups.
While it was clear that some of the animals had been shot, it was not at that stage possible to establish the cause of death of a number of them. Accordingly, it was decided to remove three carcases for full post-mortem. The post-mortems revealed that one had died from shooting, one had been bludgeoned to death and the third had been hit with force through the eyes with a sharp metal object. A further visit was made to the island on 8 November by members of the Garda Síochana, accompanied by NPWS officials, to continue the investigation, and one further carcase was removed for examination.
I welcome the fact that a full-scale investigation of this incident is being rigorously pursued by the Garda, working closely with NPWS. As the investigation is still progressing it would not be appropriate to furnish further details at this time. Separately, all NPWS regional staff working in coastal areas have been instructed to be on special alert over the course of the current seal breeding season.
The priority, in light of this appalling incident, is to harness full public and community support for the requirements of the law on animal welfare and wildlife protection; and to leave no doubt that offences will be vigorously prosecuted. This approach aims to ensure the safety of wild seals in their natural breeding habitats, without recourse to ongoing special security interventions which would be logistically difficult to sustain and problematic in nature conservation terms.
