Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the two Deputies for raising this important issue. If it is okay, I will provide the House with some background information in relation to it.

The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, AEWA, was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the agreement in 2003. The agreement includes a commitment that "Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands as soon as possible in accordance with self-imposed and published timetables." Ireland's position is to support the AEWA commitment to phase out the use of lead shot over wetlands. Separately, the European Commission published a set of draft regulations in early 2019 for consideration by member states on the use of lead shot in and around wetlands. The draft regulation has been discussed by member states at some meetings of the REACH committee.

Following a discussion at the most recent REACH committee meeting in June 2020, the Commission submitted a draft set of regulations for a vote by member states by written procedure. The main proposals in the regulation published in June 2020 on the use of lead gun shot in and around wetlands would involve a transitional period of 24 months for those member states banning the use of lead gun shot in and around wetlands. The transition time for member states with wetlands that exceed 20% of their territory would be extended to 36 months, as long as they ban the purchase and use of lead shot in all their territory and not just wetlands. The regulation also proposes that there would be fixed buffer zones of 100 m around wetlands, where lead shot possession and shooting would be prohibited. Finally, as Deputy Clarke has mentioned, it is proposed to adopt the definition of wetlands that is used in the Ramsar Convention.

I fully support the underlying thrust of the regulation and its protection for the environment and water birds. Like some other member states, we currently have no restrictions on the use of lead shot over wetlands. In those member states which have already introduced some national regulation, gun owners would already have non-lead ammunition and the lead-in time set out in the draft regulations would seem appropriate.

However, as we currently have no restriction, statutory or otherwise, in place on the use of lead in gunshot, we would be placed in the most difficult position of having to catch up to implement and properly enforce a new EU regulation in 24 months in an area in which other member states are already advanced in respect of national regulation on the transition to new weapons, of compliance and of education of the public, and gun users in particular. The guns of many Irish farmers and hunters are not capable of using lead shot substitutes. These farmers and hunters would need to purchase new guns. In addition, the proposed definition of wetlands is that of the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, which includes peatlands. This would cover extensive areas around the country. Unfortunately, these Ramsar areas are not all mapped and, given the scale of wetlands in Ireland, this would take some time so action on enforcement would present real problems.

While the Commission has proposed to progress this measure, I believe it is time we received some support on this matter. Although Ireland is supportive of the aims of the regulation and is committed to implementing them, the lead-in time proposed by the Commission would present Ireland with difficulties and we will seek to have this addressed.

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