Vol. 473 No. 4
205 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if mobile phone numbers of wildlife officers are available to local Garda stations, animal welfare groups and the public in order that they can be contacted when required in emergencies; and, if not, if they will be made available through local Garda stations and public libraries. [25202/96]
In the interests of their personal safety and protection mobile phones were supplied to rangers and their superiors for use particularly in potentially dangerous situations such as night-time anti-poaching patrols and patrols in remote areas. I would be concerned should these numbers get into the public domain as a call at a wrong moment could disrupt an investigation or even place a member of my staff in danger. The official telephone numbers for staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are published in the State Services section of the current telephone directories and in other relevant publications. In addition, a list of the staff concerned, together with their official addresses and telephone numbers, has been made available, on request, to certain nongovernmental organisations and others.
I am satisfied that close co-operation and communications exist between wildlife officers and the Garda Síochána.
