Ms Fionnuala Tyrell:

First of all, I agree with much of what has been said by other speakers. Basically, we are all singing off the same hymn sheet. In my personal experience, the biggest problem with regard to deer is that nobody is willing to step up and take responsibility. We were having a big issue with deer. The local wildlife ranger came out and his comment over the damage they were doing was that it was nobody's fault; they are wild animals and no-one is responsible for them. If nobody is willing to take responsibility, this is where the issue lies. No-one will count them and no-one is going to herd them in. As I said previously, fencing them out is a localised solution and will do for each farmer. There needs to be proper control. Up to now, the Department has not taken any control. It has tended to take the line that it is only the badger. It did not want to listen to farmers on the ground who see deer in their area and know what is going on in their own particular region. The Department has refused to listen. It has to listen now because enough reports are coming through, but will action be taken?

I live in an area in which there are many Coillte forestries. New forestries are being planted and there is no sign of deer fencing going up around them to keep the deer in. Coillte will put tubes on the trees and plant broad leaf plants at the edge of the new plantations but it does not wish to put up fencing. These deer have spread. They are everywhere around the country. Somebody needs to be willing. There is no point saying there will be meetings or this and that. They are continuously breeding and spreading. They need new land. They are wild animals. Wildlife is keeping this whole circle going. They need to be contained. This needs meetings now, not in ten years' time because in ten years' time, other counties will be suffering the same effects. A policy needs to be put in place. Some particular body needs to take responsibility for all of the wildlife, but especially the deer. Basically, that is all I have to say. Does Mr. Stephenson have anything to add to that?