Animal Welfare

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Questions (388)

Clare Daly

Question:

388. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the second dead seal database report, covering the period 2014 to 2016 (details supplied), in particular the reports in it of a cluster of sub adult seals found dead with massive tissue loss; and if her Department will take steps to investigate the cause of these deaths. [39607/16]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

My Department has had sight of the second Dead Seal Database report and my officials have been in communication with the organisation referred to by the Deputy about the database.

I am advised that the deaths referred to may have been caused by one or more large bull seals. Such behaviour has been recorded in Scotland over a number of years.

My Department intends to keep abreast of research findings.