Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All those issues form part of the long awaited threat response plan. I am disappointed it has taken this long to get the plan finalised. I take the point made. It is interesting, in respect of the most recent survey on hen harriers, that the number of breeding pairs is still in decline notwithstanding all of the efforts made to date. I know the hen harrier is a wonderful bird. I have engaged with people who have their lands designated to protect this species and realise their work is informed by the objective of preserving the species. At some stage, it may well be that science and research will conclude that something is amiss in respect of our endeavours to protect the bird. One can see from the history of the planet that not every species survives. I hope that the hen harrier can survive and prosper but we need to accelerate our endeavours to conclude the threat response plan. We must see where that leads. In the interim, my Department is doing everything possible in respect of amending the rural development programme and getting a scheme up and running in 2017.