Vol. 457 No. 6
69 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if shooting is illegal in a designated conservation area under the Wild Bird Regulations (S.I.59 of 1994); and if the Broadmeadow Estuary between Swords and Malahide, County Dublin, is a designated conservation area. [15833/95]
The Broadmeadow Estuary was designated in 1994 as a Special Protection Area under Article 4 of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds, known as "the Birds Directive". The enabling regulations were the "European Communities (Conservation of Wild Birds) (Amendment) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 59 of 1994)".
Accordingly this country must take appropriate steps with regards to Special Protection Areas to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats or excessive disturbance affecting the wild birds where these are significant.
Traditional hunting is not affected by designation as a Special Protection Area so long as the conservation status of the species hunted is not affected. The Broadmeadow Estuary is an area traditionally popular with wildfowl. Hunting on the foreshore is regulated under section 30 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, and hunters must be in possession of a section 30 permit to hunt on the foreshore.
Notwithstanding the above the discharge of firearms near occupied buildings and roads etc. are restricted under separate legislation administered by the Department of Justice.
