I have taken a number of prosecutions and others are lined up. Also, this is not a matter of a deadlock in the Department regarding the transmission of sites. The reason it may seem there is a delay is that I wanted a fair and transparent process. This process was put into action when the Minister of State and I took over this Department by ensuring there was an appeals system headed by the former Ombudsman, Mr. Michael Mills. There are not only landowners involved in the appeals system but also conservationists, so all groups have a say within the structure.
I want to ensure that that system is fully used before the sites are transmitted and they are transmitted once they have gone through the procedure. The Deputy can be assured that decisions on whether an area is part of a SAC or not is made purely on scientific grounds.