Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2004
43 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to protect the seal population of the Blasket Islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32757/04]
View answer109 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the results of the investigation carried out by his Department into the reported killing of a large number of seals on the Blasket Islands, County Kerry, in early November 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32665/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 109 together.
In response to the recent killing of seals on the Blasket Islands, staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have been working closely with the Garda Siochána in its investigation of this matter. It would not be appropriate to comment further on the progress of this investigation at this stage. I have also asked all NPWS field staff in areas where there are breeding seal populations to be especially vigilant during the breeding season, when seals are particularly vulnerable. A number of visits have been made to check breeding colonies.
Aerial monitoring of breeding seal populations is ongoing on the west coast at present. Aerial work was also carried out in Kerry during the past weekend. The fleet of boats for use by NPWS staff is being upgraded and this should enhance the service's capability for carrying out surveillance work on the Blaskets and other offshore islands and locations where seals breed.
