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Wildlife Regulations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Ceisteanna (246, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295)

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

246. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has been in communications since 2021 with the Minister for Health in relation to the unprecedented and very high-density urban seagull colonies identified in the National Urban Gull Survey published in September 2021 as occupying several large towns and urban areas and the interests of public health and safety in these regards; and if so, if will he provide this Deputy with the details of same. [34535/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

289. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 27 July 2021, the reason that his Department has failed for almost a year despite an undertaking by his Department to provide a comprehensive response to the question (details supplied); and the date by which his Department will provide a comprehensive response to this Deputy. [34523/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

290. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the evidence that was considered, accepted and rejected including the reason for rejection by his Department in respect of each wild bird species that was listed for control in the extended declarations for protection of public health or safety and air safety; and the origin and age of all such evidence with regard to his decision on 30 April 2022 to extend, unaltered the State-wide 2021-2022 derogation declarations. [34524/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

291. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide with a copy of the briefing notes and recommendations given to him by his Department in respect of the three-month extension of the general State wide 2021-2022 derogation declarations announced on 30 April 2022; and if he will provide the full details of the reason for his decision to merely extend them unaltered, despite the extremely concerning results of the National Urban Gull Survey published in September 2021, by his Department. [34525/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

292. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he and his Department took full account of the extremely concerning results of its National Urban Gull Survey as published in September 2021 with regard to his decision on 30 April 2022 to extend, unaltered the general State-wide 2021-2022 derogation declaration for the protection of public health or safety for three months; and if so, the reason it is still necessary in several towns and areas other than Balbriggan for families that have been shown and known to be severely impacted by high-density urban gull colonies to request the State for a licence to protect persons (details supplied) from highly aggressive large seagulls. [34526/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

293. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for extension of the general State-wide 2021-2022 derogation declarations for wild bird species control in the interests of public health and safety. [34527/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

294. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether there is an important, serious material difference between the legally impugned per expert legal advice as sourced by and provided to his Department (details supplied) with serious implications for communities severely impacted by high-density urban seagull colonies; if not, the reason the primary legislation and or other legal advice that he is relying on to support his reasoning and his continued signing into law of derogation declarations using the 1986 regulations. [34528/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Duncan Smith

Ceist:

295. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on whether that by merely extending the general 2021-2022 derogation declarations for three months to 31 July 2022, that he and his Department have once again, for a sixth urban gull breeding season since the partial 2017 Balbriggan public safety only pilot derogation, continued to deny protection of the legitimate interests of public health and safety to the many communities being severely impacted by high-density urban gull colonies that are out of control (details supplied); the reason for his decision to continue to deny protection of the legitimate interests of public health and safety to such communities, in the face a rapidly escalating, out of control, serious problem. [34529/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Work on the upcoming Wild Bird Declarations is ongoing. In the interim, I extended the existing Wild Bird Declarations by a period of three months up to the end of July 2022. This was to allow for the completion of the review of submissions received as part of the public consultation process, the receipt of legal advice and other internal discussions in relation to species (including urban gulls) included in the Declarations. I will arrange for my officials to provide the briefing note and recommendations given to me in advance of same, along with other supporting documentation.

The review of the derogation process prepared by Aniar Ecology in 2018, in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, was based on a number of surveys, data sources and publications and provided an estimate of trends for common breeding birds. Further scientific data will be collated through future studies. My Department has also received legal advice in relation to the Wild Bird Declarations and is reviewing same.

An individual may apply for a licence under Section 42 of the Wildlife Acts at any time of the year to take appropriate steps to stop serious damage being caused by a protected wild bird or animal. To date in 2022 my Department has received only one application for such a licence to remove a nest from a private residence.

I have raised the issue of urban gulls with the Minister for Health and have sought his views regarding same.

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