Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the interest of health and safety, I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine or the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to acknowledge that the wild deer population in Ireland has dramatically increased and is doing huge damage to farmland and crops. There have been several accidents and near misses on roads and injuries to persons. Hundreds of accidents have been reported to me, particularly in areas of County Tipperary. I refer to the foothills of the Knockmealdowns and the Galtees and the Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford. What is the current status of the Irish deer management forum? I assure the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, it is not a laughing matter at all, . If a deer hits one's car, it is a traumatic experience, particularly with babies on board and so on. When will a chairperson be appointed to the Irish deer management forum? I call on the Departments in question, namely, the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, together with the relevant stakeholders including farmers, the IFA, all the gun clubs, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and the county management committees to implement policies of best practice in every county affected by this issue, and there are many.

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