Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 October 2018
217. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on European Union regulation number 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species, including American mink; and the level of preparedness to meet the obligations in this regulation. [41659/18]
View answerThere are considerable similarities between the EU Regulation 1143/2014 and sections of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. My Department is currently drafting a Statutory Instrument giving effect to measures in the EU invasive alien species Regulation. This will update and strengthen the existing legislative framework in Ireland and provide authorised officers with the appropriate powers to implement the EU Regulation in Ireland.
A key component of the EU Regulation is a list of invasive alien species of Union concern (known as the Union list), for which concerted measures are required across the EU. The EU Regulation imposes restrictions on the keeping, importing, selling, breeding and growing of the listed species. Member States are also required to take measures for the early detection and rapid eradication of species which have recently arrived, or to manage populations that are already widely spread in their territory. Prevention is the priority because established populations are invariably expensive to manage and difficult or impossible to eradicate. My Department is drafting management plans as required and will consult relevant Departments and experts over the coming months.
The first Union list of 37 species was adopted in July 2016 and this was updated in July 2017 with a further 12 species, bringing the total number of listed species to 49. The American Mink is not included on the Union list at this time.
The Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), which consists of representatives of the scientific community appointed by Member States, provides advice on scientific questions related to the implementation of the EU IAS Regulation. The Scientific forum is currently reviewing 20 new risk assessments for species, including American Mink to be considered for the next update of the Union list.
Officials from my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service are engaged in this process and a decision on the proposed species to be added to the Union list is expected in the first half of 2019.
