While the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government threw the country into turmoil yesterday, I hope he will not do the same to the deer in question this evening. Will he restrict the issuing of section 42 licences in respect of female deer from May to August to enable calves to become independent? This matter has been brought to my attention by people involved in wildlife conservation who have asked that the Minister not issue any more section 42 licences to kill lactating female deer from May to September, inclusive, as this practice has condemned hundreds of young deer to starve to death. While it is accepted deer can cause damage, female deer should be controlled at the correct time of the year. The current practice does not amount to sound environmental practice. Many summer young fawns will lie away from their mothers such that female deer will often appear not to have a calf at foot. The Irish Deer Society's policy is that deer should be properly managed, shot during the proper legal hunting season from 1 September to 3 December for male deer and 1 November to 28 February for female deer. Section 42 licences should only be issued in cases of extreme damage and under no circumstances for female deer from May to August. If female deer are to be culled in September and October, the calf or fawn at foot must be taken first.
The Minister may be aware of an article entitled, "Mr. Gormley's Double Standards". I am bringing it to his attention not as a cheap shot but to highlight a factor that may have been overlooked in the drafting of wildlife legislation. Why would one want to shoot a lactating deer with a calf at foot when the calf could subsequently die of starvation?
