Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 December 2013
84. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to reports of illegal deer hunting around the country; and the safeguards that exist to prevent illegally shot deer entering the food chain and being passed on to restaurants for sale. [52057/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of reports of illegal killing of deer in certain areas of the country and staff from my Department have carried out increased number of patrols, including night patrols, in such cases. Persons involved in such activity are, of course, subject to prosecution under the Wildlife Acts.
Recent investigations, which culminated in the arrest of a number of individuals in Carlow, were the result of an investigation initiated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department in close co-operation with An Garda Síochána following incidents in the Wicklow Mountains. This is one of a number of on-going cases and investigations involving both my Department and An Garda Síochána.
I understand that there are a wide variety of controls in place relating to the traceability of meat products, including deer, to shops and restaurants which are matters for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Food Safety Authority.
