Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An Taisce did not list the protocols it wants to see. Its position is that there should be no filming on Skellig Michael and that purist view is simply not sustainable. It wrote to us several times during the licensing of the 2015 filming and we responded to each letter. We published the application online and the full approval. We did not hear again from An Taisce on the matter until its letter last December to coincide with the release of "Star Wars VIII". The letter was released to the press at the same time that it was sent to us and was obviously written to coincide with the sure publicity the movie could get. As a consequence, its negative view got some traction.

With regard to the puffins, in September 2015, most of the birds on the island had departed for the winter, including the puffins. The report published afterwards is unequivocal in stating that there was no impact on the wildlife, the buildings or the structure on Skellig Michael. UNESCO was fully informed and raised no correspondence whatsoever. I am very satisfied with the way that it has been undertaken. An Taisce's view is second-hand, speculative and uncorroborated, in my view. Incidentally, the shot used in The Irish Timeswhen it covered An Taisce's letter on 21 December was taken not on Skellig Michael but on a set in Sybil Head.

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