Dr. Alex Copland:

Deputy Healy-Rae referred to the predation of ground nesting birds by a range of species. Foxes could be added to that list also. Predation is an issue we must tackle for some of these species but it is not driving the decline. It is simply the case that these species are now so rare, they are vulnerable to any loss of habitat and any loss of nesting success. Predation has become part of the problem. It does not drive the decline but it certainly is now an element we have to tackle because the populations are so scarce.