asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a letter in a newspaper (details supplied) regarding the condition of some deer in the Phoenix Park, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Phoenix Park Deer.
18.
I have seen the letter referred to by the Deputy.
As was stated in reply to a question by the Deputy on 28th May, 1974, the general condition of the deer herd in the Phoenix Park is good. The normal practice in the case of an injured deer is to observe the progress of the injury and to put down the deer if the injury becomes sufficiently serious. As deer discard their antlers early in the summer, no action was considered necessary in regard to the animal which had objects entangled in its antlers; the objects did not cause pain or inconvenience to the animal. By this time of the year the deer would have discarded both the antlers and the entanglements.