Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and welcome the undoubted progress made in respect of the golden eagle. The whole country was shocked when one of the two chicks from the breeding pair on Lough Derg was found early this year or late last year, having died of starvation. That bird was carrying in the order of 40 pellets when found. What prosecutions have been instigated against those who have been responsible for that incident or other incidents and the destruction of these magnificent birds?

In regard to the herd of Irish deer, at the turn of the last century there were about 1,500 red deer in Kerry due to the work of the Herberts and the Brownes in their large estates. Red deer is the only native Irish species of deer. The number had declined to about 60 in 1960, but the number is increasing again. Does the Minister envisage a count of those deer being undertaken in the near future?

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