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

I will try to deal with those. A lot of questions were asked there. On deer and TB, it is my clear understanding that where farmers or communities raise the prospect of deer possibly being a contributing factor to a TB incident, the Department's local veterinary office is quite prepared to have deer samples taken in the local laboratories. It is not as though the Department is turning a blind eye to the deer issue at all. In fact, in most of the cases the deer are found not to be the causing factor. We do, however, have to be open to the possibility of deer being a contributing factor.

The culling of deer is a matter for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, but it is open to farmers whose lands are overrun by deer to apply to the National Parks and Wildlife Service under section 42 of the Wildlife Act for a licence to kill deer. This is different to a cull in a national park. It would be a local cull on the basis of incursions on a regular basis. The National Parks and Wildlife Service deal with this and licences to kill deer are issued.

On the issue of hen harriers - I can get more detail - but all applicants will be included in the scheme by April or May this year. Everybody who wanted to be in the scheme and who has applied will be in the scheme. All applications are not in yet but from a recent engagement I had with the project team I understand that they will take everybody in.