Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I believe it is an exceptional case. There was an approach made by Richard Murphy and he was spurned by the Government of the day, long before either of our times. I am making the approach now because I believe it is of great archaeological importance. The State has invested significantly in the restoration and maintenance of the site, which is one of the smallest and not insignificant monastic settlements, which is an important asset for the State. There is at present a benign ownership system under which the current owner has co-operated and facilitated the management of the site and of scientific research on the island. That could be lost. The island is for sale today. If we do not buy it there is a real risk that someone else will, who may have a different perspective on how it should be managed. It would be a tragedy if what is exceptional about this island was lost to the State.

The Minister has attended a conference and no doubt has spoken very good words on the issue of biological protection. However, her answer did not refer to the second reason I cited for purchase of the island. I understand there are up to 3,000 breeding pairs of storm petrels and a very significant population of Manx shearwaters. The most detailed analysis in recent years has been done by University College Cork to show this is actually a very important scientific site. What is happening to these sea bird populations, which are the most threatened and most in decline, indicates what is happening not just in the local area but right out to the Atlantic. It is cheaper for us to buy this island and maintain that scientific analysis than to send ships out with monitoring systems to research what is happening in the north Atlantic. We can do it here by tagging the sea birds as UCC is doing. This is very important. It is exceptional. I am making the approach to the Minister today to encourage her to buy it and protect the scientific and archaeological sites, allow for access and get it into public ownership.

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