John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

There have been misleading and exaggerated media reports over the past few months from various hunting organisations that this Bill is evidence of an all-out attack on the hunting fraternity. Let us have some facts and figures to dispel this notion. In 2007, my first year in office as Minister, there were over 4,500 various licences issued by my Department under the Wildlife Acts. The corresponding figure for 2009 was over 6,200 licences. Approximately 70% of these licences are issued to deer stalkers who, needless to say, will not be affected by this legislation.

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