asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if, on account of the deadline issued by fishermen on the west coast in regard to their intention to cull seals on the Inishkea Islands in the absence of a ministerial decision, he will now make such a decision and issue instructions as to whether he considers it necessary to have a cull carried out.
Private Notice Questions. - Seal Cull.
I have decided, on the basis of current scientific evidence and having regard to my responsibilities under the Wildlife Act for the conservation of seal species, that a cull of the grey seal population on the Inishkea Islands off the County Mayo coast would not be warranted.
I put down this question because of the very emotional issue which has arisen between environmentalists and fishermen on the west coast. I have a few supplementaries which I should like to ask the Minister in order to clarify the position. Does the evidence in his Department show conclusively that seal numbers have increased or decreased on the islands in question? Secondly, does the evidence suggest that salmon stocks in the area are being depleted, as is the claim of some fishermen? I have seen some half-eaten fish coming out of nets. Thirdly, has any organisation or individual applied to the Minister or his Department for a licence to hunt, kill or cull seals in the district? If no cull is deemed necessary, can the Minister ensure through his officers that no illegal culling will take place and that we will not have a repetition of last year's massacre?
In August last, following continued complaints from fishermen in the western area about damage being done by seals to salmon catches, on my instructions my Department established through a scientific examination and through a survey of the seal population in the area the extent of the seal population. A census of the breeding population of the seals was carried out. An analysis of the findings indicates that there was a reduction of 50 per cent in pup production over the past two years, that is, an analysis of the survey carried out by officials of my Department indicated a reduction of 50 per cent in the seal population in two years.
It is considered likely that a further reduction in the production rate will occur in the years ahead because of the unauthorised killings which took place there in 1979 and 1981 and the natural death of seals caught in nets and also disturbance factors which interfere with the breeding of seals. Therefore, not only is there a decline already in the stocks of seals there, but there are also indications of a further decline over the next 100 years. We will continue to monitor that situation and to look at it for the next year or so.
In relation to the other parts of the Deputy's question, there has always been damage to salmon catches by seals. There is evidence of that and evidence also that a series of other issues damage salmon stocks. The seals on their own certainly would not damage the salmon stocks irreparably. A variety of factors which I have spoken about on numerous occasions are damaging salmon stocks.
In relation to the final part of the question, every effort will be made by my Department and every co-operation has been requested from the Garda. We will work in close co-operation with the Garda and my staff to ensure that, in so far as it is possible, no unauthorised killing of seals will take place in that area this year.
The Minister did not answer the question as to whether an application was received in his Department.
No application has been received, but the Deputy will be aware that under the Wildlife Act, 1976, section 42, I am entitled to issue commissions. The Act spells out very clearly that authorisations can be issued in certain cases. No application as such has been received by me up to now.
Could the Minister tell me the approximate numbers of the 50 per cent reduction? What do his Department consider the numbers are now? Secondly, if claims are received in his Department for compensation as a result of damage to nets would they be considered by his Department?
The Deputy is raising two separate matters which are not relevant to this question. I consider that I have dealt fully with the question he has asked me. If there is any further evidence with relation to figures and facts which the survey has revealed I will put them fully at the Deputy's disposal. I have not got them at this short notice.
The Department would appear to claim that there are approximately 1,200 seals between Erris Head and the Foyle. The fishermen in this district claim that with reproduction over the last number of years plus migration from Scotland there could be up to 3,000 seals in the district. I want to get from the Minister the figure his Department consider are there.
We will have to get the whole information in relation to the survey which we have carried out. As the Deputy has stated, it is difficult to ascertain exact figures because, as he has said, the question of seals from the Scottish coastline is involved. The figures he has quoted seem exaggerated.
With your permission, Sir, I would like to inquire from you about a Private Notice Question which I put down querying a very serious situation which has developed in relation to parcel post from Great Britain to the Republic and you disallowed the question. On what grounds have you disallowed it? I consider it to be of immense urgency.
I know you are disappointed, but I would like to explain to you that for a question to qualify for private notice it must have arisen as an emergency so suddenly as to justify me in denying the Minister the ordinary three days' notice. The matter to which you referred is an on-going one since the beginning of October and as such does not qualify under the rule for Private Notice Questions but can be put down by way of ordinary notice question. I suggest that you do that.
The Ceann Comhairle will appreciate that the House has not been sitting since July and that 16 containers are sitting in Liverpool with parcels which cannot be accepted by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, that the Department area on Dublin docks is totally congested, that the Central Sorting Office can take in no more parcels, that it has taken three weeks to deliver a parcel from Great Britain to the Republic, and he tells me that is not of an urgent nature. With due respect to you, Sir, you have just allowed a motion on the culling of seals with which I have great sympathy, but I have also sympathy with the small business people who are dealing with jobs——
You could have put down your question for yesterday.
I put down the question——
Sorry, Deputy, you must accept my ruling and if you persist in the matter I will declare you disorderly——
I am asking——
I am asking you to resume your seat. If you continue to be disorderly, I shall have to ask you to leave the House.
I will resume my seat. I am telling you as a matter of protest that this matter is serious and it affects many jobs.
You are at liberty to put it down by way of ordinary notice question.
You do not consider this matter to be urgent. There must be another reason for your refusing the question. If you were waiting for goods coming from Great Britain you would know what it is or if you were waiting for a pay packet at the end of the week you would know whether it was urgent. Apparently the culling of seals on the west coast is more important. You are protecting the Minister and his Department for doing nothing and showing no interest whatever. The Minister knows well what I am talking about. There are 40 or 50 vans sitting in the garage——
Deputy Harte, you appreciate that you are being disorderly.
——waiting to bring the parcel post from Dublin Docks to the Central Sorting Office and in spite of that there are small businesses in the city and throughout the country waiting for parcels from Great Britain. This is disgraceful.
We will proceed to the next business. The Minister for Transport without interruption, please.
We are talking about an economic plan.
If you continue, I will ask you to leave the House.
I am making a protest.
If the Deputy persists in interrupting, I will ask him to leave the House.
I will leave the House in protest.
Please leave the House and do not compel me to send for the Ceann Comhairle.
For reasons you know best I am leaving in protest because of the sham in not allowing this question.
The Minister to proceed.
I will be back on Tuesday with it.