Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputies for their contributions, which were varied but constructive overall. To respond to Deputy Troy, only those people with firearms certificates for a shotgun are covered by this Bill and the review of the wildlife Acts will include a review of all aspects of licensing. The Deputy expressed concern at the small number of Bills emanating from my Department and argued that this legislation should have been introduced more speedily. Little has been done in this area since the previous wildlife Act was introduced 40 years ago. I have given a commitment under the national biodiversity plan to review the wildlife Acts. This process will require considerable consultation and I hope a Bill will be introduced by 2014. It would be a good outcome if we could stick to that timeframe.

Two Bills from my Department are before the House today, namely, the Bill before us and the Gaeltacht Bill being taken by the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley. Next year, I hope to introduce a monuments Bill, which will be wide-ranging and ground-breaking legislation. My Department has been active in the area of legislation.

Deputy John Browne noted that the current legislation was introduced almost 40 years ago. It is important to update the legislation and, in doing so, to consult widely. The consultation process has commenced and I have regular meetings with representatives of the relevant organisations, for example, Des Crofton of the National Association of Regional Game Councils. As I stated, 2014 is not far away.

On the issuing of farm certificates, Deputy Browne may not be aware that this is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. Licences are not required to shoot rabbits or foxes. The Bill refers only to the hunting of wild birds and hares.

I thank Deputies Sandra McLellan and Michael Colreavy for expressing positive support for the Bill. I concur with Deputy McLellan on the importance of preserving rural pastimes which, as well as social benefits, have significant economic benefits. The relationship between the rural population, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other agencies such as Fáilte Ireland is vital. I have said in meetings with environmentalists that the most important custodians of the environment are those who live in rural areas. Unfortunately in the past, in many cases, urban dwellers dictated to them and while they had the best of intentions, they did not have to live in rural areas and did not understand what it was like to live in such places. I am trying to get people to work together and it is happening to an extent.

As regards the environment, I was in charge of the REPS in the mid-1990s and at the time there was a certain reluctance on the part of the farming organisations to embrace the concept of teh scheme, but their attitude has totally changed since and they have become positively disposed towards ensuring the environment is protected and that nature and biodiversity are safeguarded. There has been a major reduction in the number of bees, which has resulted in their having to be imported to pollinate plants. Farmers and other rural dwellers are aware that they must protect the rural environment. If we can have a better relationship between people in the environmental pillar who are concerned about the environment for good reasons and those who are protecting the environment, farmers and the rural population, we can make progress.

The project under way on Boleybrack Mountain is very interesting because there is concern about the red grouse population. Red grouse have vanished from many parts of the countryside where once they were plentiful. If I get the opportunity, I will be delighted to take Deputy Michael Colreavy up on his offer of a visit to County Leitrim to see the project. I am aware there is another project in County Tipperary and similar projects elsewhere, but there is major concern about the red grouse and I would like to see how the project is being run in County Leitrim. The community on Boleybrack Mountain has organised the project and I am pleased it was undertaken in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Unfortunately for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it has become associated with telling people what not to do rather than what they can do in co-operation with it. This is a good example of how working with the local community can have good results.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has continued the work undertaken by the late Tony Gregory to whom I spoke many times in this House and beyond about coursing. The motion on coursing that he tabled in 1993 was interesting; it split a number of parties, my own included. I take some credit, however, for the achievement of muzzling. I proposed the measure in a debate during Private Members' business and it was adopted by the Government. I said then that it took the blood out of coursing, although there are still issues to be resolved. Wherever there is coursing, there will be hares. I attend the occasional coursing meeting, although I have not been at one for over a year, and it is very much part of the rural way of life and its culture. Some Deputies might criticise this, but where I come from in north Kerry coursing is as popular as Gaelic football. It commands a huge following and without it people would feel a major emptiness in their lives. One of their pastimes and real interests would be no more and it would have a real effect on them.

As regards monitoring coursing meetings, the National Parks and Wildlife Service reports on coursing meetings and wildlife rangers are present. They report back to me on the issues of hare husbandry and health and how the local coursing clubs look after the hares, both in captivity and the wild. Many hare coursing clubs protect hare habitats and ensure hares are protected.

As very few people shoot hares, these measures will be part of the review of the Bill. I said to the coursing community that I was thinking of removing the reference to hares from the Bill because very few people shot them. The only reason the reference to them was included in the first instance was for control, where there might be a huge hare population in a particular place. That certainly could pose a threat to crops. However, I do not know of anyone who shoots hares, but the provision was included in the legislation; therefore, if it is not needed, I see no reason, when we review the legislation, we should not reconsider its inclusion.

Bag returns were mentioned. Those involved have some arrangement, but it is not obligatory to report bag catches. This is another issue we must examine in the future.

Deputy Clare Daly was exercised about hare coursing also. I understand the Technical Group proposes to introduce a Bill on this issue which would give the Deputy an opportunity to discuss it. It is up to the Technical Group to allow for this when it has time to do so in the future.

Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick highlighted the importance of tourism, while Deputy Tom Barry has some practical knowledge as a man involved in farming and the grain business. He knows about bird control and mentioned crows and pigeons. If there is no control, considerable damage can be done to crops, leading to a major loss of farming income. There is no doubt about that and that is why it is important to have these controls.

Deputy McGrath raised several issues. I agree fully with him that local gun and coursing clubs are important for the preservation of wildlife in the country. It is important that the environmental groups work closely with the gun clubs and coursing clubs because they share a common interest in the preservation of wildlife in the country. If they work together these groups could get better results. Deputy McGrath referred to a specific issue about fishing clubs. I do not have responsibility for that area. The Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy O'Dowd, has responsibility for inland fisheries and Deputy McGrath should raise that issue with him.

I thank the various Deputies for their contributions. There will be further debate on this issue in time to come. I would like to proceed to the next Stage.

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