Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
827. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the regulations to put basking sharks on the protected species list; if he will provide a timeline for implementation and the associated resources to implement the new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41776/22]
View answerMy Department has drafted a new regulation under Section 23(2)(a) of the Wildlife Act 1976 to confer ‘protected wild animal’ status on the Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus).
It is an offence to hunt a protected wild animal (unless under permission or licence granted by the Minister), injure a protected wild animal (unless done while hunting in accordance with a licence or exemption), or wilfully interfere with or destroy the breeding or resting places of a protected wild animal.
As the Basking Shark is a species of fish, under Section 23(3) of the Wildlife Act 1976 the Minister may only make such Regulations with the agreement and co-signature of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That Minister has indicated his support for this proposal.
