Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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140. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will confirm that all outstanding matters brought by the European Commission against Ireland concerning the State’s transposition and implementation of the birds directive, details supplied, relating to the protection of endangered birds have been resolved; the measures that have been put in place to ensure implementation; if fines have accrued against Ireland; if so, the amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5507/15]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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This question relates to the conservation of species of birds that are dwindling. It refers to the complaint heard at the European Court about Ireland's implementation of the directive.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in conjunction with a number of other Departments and agencies, has been engaged in a significant programme of work to meet the requirements of this case since the judgment issued in 2007. The majority of issues in the judgment have now been addressed to the satisfaction of the European Commission and no fines have been applied against the State. However, the case is not yet closed, as some unresolved elements remain. These issues, and actions to deal with them, have been agreed with the Commission and are set out in a programmes of measures, which may be viewed on the Department’s website. Progress on implementation is demonstrated by six-monthly updates of the programme, co-ordinated by the Department.

The background to the case was to create a comprehensive scheme of protection for all wild bird species naturally occurring in the European Union, which was adopted by a directive in 1979 in response to increasing concern about the decline in Europe's wild bird population resulting from pollution and loss of habitats as well as unsustainable use. It is recognised that many wild bird species are migratory and require international co-operation for their conservation. The codified version of the directive, which was adopted in 2009, places great emphasis on the protection of habitats for endangered as well as migratory species, particularly through the establishment of a network of special protection areas comprising all the most suitable territories for the species.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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We signed up to an obligation but we did not fulfil it. This obligation predates the Government, and the Minister is working towards resolving this issue. Conservation is never easy, and we know a number of species have dwindling populations. Do the European institutions take account of the staff and resources required to fulfil these obligations, particularly at a time when there are huge constraints on the economy? We can see from Question Time today the variety of matters for which the Department is responsible, at a time when it has probably been losing staff and expertise. Is there any give from the European Union in terms of insisting on conservation when, unfortunately, it would be fairly far down the food chain when it comes to other issues at European level?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the new rural development programme, GLAS, some assistance is available for farmers. The scheme, which is operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, continues to provide payments for farmers under the corncrake grant scheme, which is offered to farmers with calling corncrake on their land in a given year, and for a small number of five-year farm plans. With regard to resources, I am unsure whether funding is available through Europe, but I can check and get back to the Deputy.