Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú:

I thank the Deputy for those questions. If he had been present for my opening statement, he would have heard me say the NPWS is a science-led organisation. The science is hugely important to us, as is the data we collect. I cannot comment on that case but I will say that the removal of four almost extinct birds was in response to a legal obligation and what the science was showing us. I stress that those ducks are almost extinct. They are red-listed. I cannot comment further on that.

With regard to the strategic forum, we talk about our values and one of the values of the NPWS is partnership and engagement. Engagement with organisations like NARGC is hugely important to us. The complexity and totality of rural interests extend significantly beyond what NARGC represents. Nonetheless, it is hugely important the NPWS engages with that totality of interests. The strategic forum referenced by the Deputy has not been established yet. In consultation with the Minister, we will be inclusive in regard to the composition of that. The NPWS is a rural-based organisation and is hugely dependent on those communities. That engagement in terms of informing where we are going with various initiatives is very important.

With regard to the licensing issues to which the Deputy referred in his second question, NARGC was hugely important to us in the context of the licensing regime we introduced for deer hunting.

The association helped us to test it. It welcomed that and the NPWS welcomed its engagement with us in that respect. There is a significant amount of engagement with the organisation that has to continue and I can assure the Deputy it certainly will. The court case aside, the NPWS continues to engage with the NARGC at all levels from the Minister right through. I can give the commitment we will engage. My colleague, Ms Sorcha de Brúch, is responsible for licensing and would like to come in on this subject as well.