Tony Gregory
Ceist:394 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated in 1994 to the Wildlife Advisory Council; and the staff and office facilities serving the Council. [311/94]
Written Answers. - Animal Welfare Funding.
Tony Gregory
Ceist:395 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will have arrangements made for a representative of an Animal Welfare/ Rights Organisation to be appointed to the Wildlife Council. [437/94]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 394 agus 395 le chéile.
The Deputy will be aware that under the Heritage Council Bill, 1994, which I recently introduced in the Seanad, the Wildlife Advisory Council will be replaced by a Standing Committee on Wildlife of the Heritage Council.
While there is no specific funding provision for the Wildlife Advisory Council, administrative costs arising from the operation of the council are met from the allocation for the National Heritage Council and staffing and office requirements are provided by my Department.
Members are appointed to the Wildlife Advisory Council in a personal capacity rather than as representatives of any particular organisation and it is not the intention to alter this position. I will, however, bear the general thrust of the Deputy's suggestion in mind when deciding on nominations to the Heritage Council and to the relevant committee to be set up following the enactment of the Bill.