Vol. 527 No. 3
316 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has granted licences to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for capturing badgers by wire snare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28495/00]
Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, has issued licences under the Wildlife Act, 1976, to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development to capture and remove badgers as part of its research programme on bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers, using a stopped body restraint which, I understand, was specially designed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, whose staff are fully trained in its use. The research programme also provides for development work on a vaccine for badgers which will, if successful, ultimately provide considerable dividends for the badger population in its own right, which is also subject to tuberculosis.
