I propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 350 to 353, inclusive, 364, 365 and 367 to 372, inclusive, together.
All birds in Ireland, in the first instance, are protected by both EU and Irish law. Derogations from the law may be sought in the form of licences or general Declarations. The management of gulls on private property is a matter for the relevant property owner. For the sake of clarification, I would like to clarify that no cull of gulls has been permitted, or carried out.
As highlighted in that 2021 Irish Wildlife Manual Urban Gulls report, there are a myriad of factors which may influence the presence or absence of urban nesting gulls (including proximity to known/historical breeding sites, to waterbodies, distance from the sea). Anthropogenic factors supporting urban nesting gulls include the abundance of food in these urban/suburban areas; suitability of some structure/building as nesting locations, and conversely, increased pressures in the marine environment, such as commercial fishing limiting foraging opportunities for many seabirds, seabird bycatch, and climate change effects on availability of key prey species.
As set out in the relevant urban gulls and seabird reports provided, the conservation status of herring gull for example, has not been secure in the past (i.e. previously Red-listed). While the most recent 2021 Birds Of Conservation Concern in Ireland update, has seen the Herring Gull move from the Red to Amber list, it along with Lesser Black-backed Gull remain on that list due to breeding population and/or range declines of between 25- 49% for that ‘Amber’ category
The State-wide Wild Bird Declaration allows for the control of certain protected wild birds by removal of the nest or eggs of those species in Balbriggan without going through the licence application process. There are no current plans to expand the current Declaration to include other areas outside of Balbriggan as there is no evidence to suggest that this derogation has had any significant impact on the activity of gulls nesting on private properties. The NPWS does not hold any statistics in relation to the numbers of nests or eggs that were removed in Balbriggan under the Wild Bird Declarations, though anecdotal evidence suggests that very few individuals carried out this activity.
There was a change in the wording of the Wild Bird Declaration in 2022 that replaced the term ‘Public Health’, anywhere it was used in the Declaration, with ‘Public Health & Safety’. This was to bring the wording in line with Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive, it was not a change in the status of the threat level regarding any of the Birds listed.
I understand that other Countries may be taking different approaches when dealing with various bird species.
Matters relating to prohibiting the feeding of wild birds; correctly disposing of rubbish on our streets to make them less attractive and to discourage them from congregating in particular areas; any warning signage or publicity campaigns in relation to same is a matter for the relevant Local Authority.