Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses and apologise for missing the opening statement. I was in the Chamber. Needless to say, I am come at this from a pronounced rural perspective. I am particularly concerned at what appears to be the exclusion of the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, from the process to date. I am fielding multiple calls about it in my constituency. I am particularly aware of the work game councils do right across Ireland. The NARGC is the largest bird conservation organisation and has a proud record of supporting bird conservation in Ireland. At club level, members invest more than €1 million of their own hard-earned money each year in conservation efforts.

Last September, as the witnesses will be aware, with only very limited consultation, four species of duck were removed from the open season order. I appreciate that is being challenged in the courts and the NPWS is limited in what it can say. However, there are concerns about calls to further restrict the hunting of wild birds in Ireland. These appear to be based more on ideological opposition to field sports and rural pursuits than any sound scientific evidence. It is vitally important that the NPWS ensures full and inclusive engagement with all stakeholders, including those involved in rural pursuits such as game hunting.

I have two specific questions. Will the NPWS confirm that all rural interests, including NARGC, will be included in future meetings of the NPWS stakeholder forum established under the NPWS strategic plan, as agreed by the Government? Will it commit to enhancing stakeholder engagement with game hunters and NARGC, as the representative body, with regard to licensing issues and anomalies in the interpretation of wildlife legislation? We have fallen between stools on both those points to date.