Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2018
623. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if information will be provided on matters (details supplied) further to the award of the contract for a review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive. [8571/18]
View answer624. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if information on matters (details supplied) will be provided further to the review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive for the protection of public health and safety and in view of her Department’s previously stated non-competence in matters of public health and safety. [8572/18]
View answer625. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive will be completed in time to inform the 2018 derogation declaration, which is normally published on or before 30 April each year; and if not, her plans in regard to the derogation declaration due to be made on 1 May 2018. [8573/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which will take account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology were recently appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process. The Terms of Reference for the review include
1. Review the existing General and Air Safety Declarations (2017/18) including species covered, time periods covered, geographic areas covered, reasons stated for inclusion and methods of control and having examined and taking account of
i. Relevant National and European legislation
ii. Information available on bird species which are included in the current declarations and any other bird species proposed to be included in the Declarations in the future, including information on population and population trends of, distribution of, and threats to such species
iii The extent to which such bird species give rise to issues in relation to
1. Public health and safety
2. Air safety
3. Serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries or water
4. Protection of flora or fauna.
2. Recommend in relation to 2018/19 and future years which bird species should be included in the annual Declarations with in relation to each case, the reasons for recommending inclusion in accordance with legislation, which time periods should be covered, which geographic areas should be covered, and which control methods are appropriate. Also where species included in the current (2017/18) Declarations are not being recommended for inclusion in 2018/19, outline reasons for this.
3. Recommend guidance and criteria for use by the Department for future annual reviews of the General Declaration and the Air Safety Declaration.
Further details in relation to the Terms of Reference and information on the deliverables are included in the Request for Tender Document (Tender No. 123861) available on the Government e-tenders website at
www.etenders.gov.ie.
Among other issues the consultants will consider public health and safety issues in the context of the derogation process and will also review the position in other EU countries.
The contract is for a period of five months with the final report scheduled for mid-June 2018. An interim report is due from the consultants by April 2018 to include recommendations in respect of the derogation process including in relation to the 2018/19 declarations.
It is my understanding that the consultants have commenced a consultation process with relevant stakeholders with a wider and more detailed public consultation process will commence following the completion of the interim report.
