Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin welcomes the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012. It makes perfect sense to extend the current hunting licence provisions in the Wildlife Act 2010 that allow a hunter in possession of a firearm certificate to shoot wild birds and hares during the open season. The environment is a key asset for Ireland and as such it must be protected and proactively managed to ensure it forms the basis of Ireland's economic well being. Our natural environment, with its rich ecosystems, abundant biodiversity and spectacular landscapes, has also a central and important role to play in creating a healthy society and national well being.

The proposed amendment has the potential to make a positive contribution to wildlife conservation and lead to an increase in the numbers of people holidaying in rural Ireland. The latter point is important, particularly when one considers the depressed state of the economy and the dramatic decline in manufacturing and industrial activity. The loss of jobs in these sectors and the shift in the labour market to more service-oriented employment increase the importance of the tourism sector to the recovery of the economy.

Ireland is exceptionally well positioned to tap into the international tourism market with its rich heritage, environmentally clean ecosystem and rich biodiversity. However, the overall challenge is that as the key sectors of the economy develop and recover, to ensure they do so in a sustainable way, while decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures. This means that our natural resources and environmental conditions that are so important to the economic and social well-being of Ireland's future generations they must be protected from overuse and degradation. For example, a clean environment with high standards of water and air quality is a critical component of good quality of life. Abundant biodiversity and healthy soil are also important aspects of our natural environment that are essential for healthy living. Maintaining biodiversity and the natural environment from further loss and destruction is of vital importance if we are to tap into these crucial resources to transform the economy and create sustainable communities in which people can find permanent and secure employment.

Ireland's marine and terrestrial environment supports a wide variety of species and habitats, many of which are of international importance. While many species are doing well in conservation terms, a significant number of habitats and species are not. It must be acknowledged that significant progress has been made in the designation of EU protected areas in Ireland, but several areas of national importance remain undesignated. Significant aspects of biodiversity are under constant threat from overdevelopment and generally unsustainable activities. In this sense, it is of the utmost importance that we value and conserve the intrinsic worth of our natural resources. They are key assets for the State and it is imperative we protect this wealth for future generations.

Tourism in Ireland should preserve its quality. Its green image should be inspired by principles of minimal environmental impact, respect for and support of local cultures and traditions, enhancing a formative experience for the tourist that strives for quality, not quantity, while guaranteeing its conservation for future generations. The sector of sustainable tourism is long overdue for development. Moreover, the international market for more sustainable options is well advanced outside Ireland, with more tourists each year requesting ecological and sustainable experiences here. Sustainable tourism development has the potential to create thousands of jobs, revitalise rural communities suffering from a wave of mass emigration and conserve our natural habitats. Sinn Féin will, therefore, be supporting the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012.

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