Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last September the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, following only limited consultations, decided to remove four species of duck from the open seasons order, effectively banning their being hunted. This development has led to serious questions about how decisions on issues relating to wildlife and hunting are made and how rural interests, including farmer representatives and the National Association of Regional Game Councils, which does very important work, are consulted and included in the decision-making process. In the past, the National Association of Regional Game Councils had a close working relationship with the Minister and the Minister of State and a lot of good progress was made on conservation schemes, the regeneration of habitats and so on. Since this Government came in, with the green influence again, they have been totally shut out.. NGOs can walk into Ministers' offices any day of the week but these people who are serious stakeholders in preserving our game and nurturing our habitats have been locked out of these processes. This is very serious. It is a slippery slope. They need to be consulted and engaged with in order that we can do things properly.

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