Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2005
70 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the report of the scientific group set up to examine the issue of hunting on State lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4019/05]
View answer112 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the report of the scientific group set up to examine the issue of hunting on State lands. [3707/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 112 together.
The policy of my Department, continuing that of successive Departments which have held responsibility for nature conservation, is to prohibit, on properties acquired for conservation purposes, any activities that would adversely affect the purposes for which the lands were acquired or would interfere with the enjoyment and safety of members of the public availing of the resource. In this context, hunting on properties managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, of my Department has remained prohibited.
This policy was closely re-examined by my predecessor following requests by the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, that its members should be given access to some national parks and wildlife properties for the purpose of shooting game. For the following reasons, my predecessor concluded that the prohibition of shooting on these properties should continue.
First, the sites were acquired, in general using public funds, for the purpose of nature conservation and to serve as refuges and breeding places for species of wildlife. Hunting could also disturb "non-quarry" species and their habitat, thereby reducing the value of these sites as refuges for wildlife generally. Second, facilities for hunting are extensively available on Coillte lands, as well as those of private owners, and on foreshore.
Third, account had to be taken of considerations of public safety and of the potential exposure of the State to claims for damages by persons harmed or otherwise adversely affected by hunting on NPWS properties. Fourth, the Heritage Council has recommended against any change in the long standing policy of not permitting hunting on national parks and wildlife lands.
In reaching conclusions on this matter, the then Minister had available the report of a joint scientific group comprising officials of my Department and nominees of NARGC, which carried out a joint examination of the question of hunting on State lands, from a scientific perspective only. Whereas this group considered that scientific reasons would not obtain for an automatic ban where hunting is sustainable, its report did not advance specific advice on how populations and sustainability should be assessed. While the group's report did propose a methodology for considering this matter further, the implementation of this would require significant NPWS personnel resources which would have to be diverted from other priority work.
For the reasons already indicated, it was not considered that the report of the scientific group justified a departure from the existing established policy in this matter. This remains the position.
