Vol. 529 No. 4
202 Ms Coughlan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will consider introducing a cull of seals in consultation with the Scottish authorities to allow for the full development of angling in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3108/01]
Seals are a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976, and it is an offence to hunt or kill them save under a licence or permission granted by me as Minister under the Act. No official seal cull has been carried out since the Wildlife Act, 1976, came into force and I have no proposals to carry out a cull.
Section 42 of the Wildlife Act provides that, where damage is being caused by a protected wild animal (in this case seals) to a fishery, it is open to me as Minister to authorise the taking of whatever steps I consider appropriate to stop the damage. Permissions issued under Section 42 of the Act provide for the shooting of seals within 100 metres of fishing nets which are subject to damage. Permits are issued in response to specific applications and each application is considered on its merits.
