Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I welcome this Bill, which clarifies a situation that needs to be rectified. The introduction of the new gun licence was welcome at the time. Perhaps the licence should include a photograph, a signature and biometric data. I also welcome the security measures and the policing and advice from the Garda Síochána with regard to firearms in houses. Given the level of crime, it is important that measures are taken to ensure legal firearms do not stray into the wrong hands. Gun safes are very welcome.

As a person who shoots game and then uses it, shooting and game are part of the countryside and will remain so. I disagree fundamentally with people who say we should not shoot game. Another issue is the control of crows and pigeons. Certain Deputies may say the shooting of any wild bird is wrong and that birdwatching is important but if they come to my part of the country they can watch thousands of wild birds destroying crops and passing on salmonella. The control of wild birds through seed dressing has been prevented because we cannot use seed dressing on grain. I am not a great lover of poison but in cases where there is a huge number of birds they need to be controlled and alpha-chloralose, the main poison, has a place when used in a regulated and trained fashion. The cost of production to the countryside needs to be recognised. With the bad weather at the moment, the number of pigeons and crows is frightening.

I met a tillage group in my constituency on Monday and its members raised another issue in respect of this Bill. We are having a problem because we cannot cut hedges on the sides of local roads, regional roads and national secondary roads. Birds are nesting there but we must have the safety of users recognised because one cannot get up and down the roads. Farmers are afraid to deal with the problem because, if they do, they are afraid they will be in breach of some law. We must examine this carefully for the safety of people on the roads. Farmers are willing to cut hedges themselves and bear the cost of it, which would help our tourism industry. In discussing wildlife, this issue comes into play.

An earlier speaker asked what the hares ever did to us. They have done a lot of damage when there are excess numbers of them. In my area, the number of hares is not at a critical level. There is an abundance of them and there are two or three in my garden. They are well able to cause damage. I do not want to give the idea that gun clubs are not responsible. They are incredibly responsible. For people who preach from the middle of Dublin city, the reason the countryside is in such fine fettle is because the custodians of the countryside have maintained it like that for many years and continue to do so. Less criticism and more help would be very welcome.

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