Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2016
263. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the National Parks and Wildlife Service is Ireland’s representative on the EU Ornis committee (details supplied). [32733/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 531 of 27 September 2016, if EU member states, including Ireland, submit birds directive derogation licence reports annually to the EU Ornis committee; if such reports list in detail every derogation licence issued by a member state under the birds directive, for every form of control measure, on every protected bird species; and if her Department has access to detailed information regarding the derogation licensing activities and the resulting control measures from those derogation licences in all member states that file reports to Ornis. [32734/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra265. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the fact that Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, in addition to the birds directive derogation licences that they issue and file annually to Ornis, also issue general licences through their respective wildlife agencies that each include the herring gull, the lesser-black-backed gull and the greater black-backed gull as amenable to control measures for reasons of public health and safety. [32735/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together.
The work of the Ornis Committee, which was an advisory committee, has been assimilated into the Expert Group on the Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department is represented by appropriate officials at these meetings, depending on the agenda.
The Birds Directive is implemented in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. Under the terms of the Directive, all Member States of the EU are bound to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats. Under Article 9(1) Member States may derogate on the basis of a number of reasons, including in the interests of public health and safety; air safety; and to prevent serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water; for the protection of flora and fauna; and for research, teaching, repopulation and reintroduction.
Members States must report to the European Commission on an annual basis on the implementation of the provisions in Article 9(1). Article 9(2) sets out the details to be included in derogation reports to the Commission and include
- The bird species;
- The means, arrangements or methods authorised for capture or killing; and
- Time and place and controls to be carried out.
The European Commission publishes a composite report which provides an analysis of the EU Member States annual reports and an assessment of the conformity of the derogations issued with the provisions of the Birds Directive. Individual Member State reports, including those for Ireland, are also published.
My Department is aware of some other Member States that issue licences under their domestic legislation in relation to the control of certain bird species, including some species of gulls.
