asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware of the serious injustice meted out to tenant farmers by the restricted period of the game-shooting season which greatly benefits the landed gentry; and, if so, if he will have the position reviewed at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Game-Shooting Season.
The Game Protection Order, 1950, to which, I assume, the Deputy is referring, was made after consultation with game preservation associations and is intended to restrict the shooting of game birds that are in need of special protection. There has been only one complaint (and that from an individual sportsman) that the Order is unnecessarily restrictive. The need for continuing the restrictions will be considered before any protection Order is made for the next season.
Perhaps I might now be permitted to ask the supplementary question which I intended to put to an earlier question when I was interrupted by Deputy Aiken. Is the Minister aware that dearer game licences, costlier cartridges and a reduced shooting season, are most irritating to the ordinary tenant farmer? Is he also aware that the month of October is the only month during which the tenant farmer can shoot game as the game birds will have retreated to the coverts of the landed gentry after 1st November? Is it fair that the tenant farmer should be deprived of rights which we are giving to a privileged class in this country? I think it is time we thought of the common man first.