Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Following the advice issued by the Heritage Council and at the request of the National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, the previous Minister agreed in early 2002, without prejudice, to a joint examination by a scientific group, comprising officials of the Department and nominees of NARGC, of the question of permitting hunting on State lands, from a scientific perspective only. One of the conclusions of the scientific group's report was that there are no scientific reasons for an automatic ban on hunting in national parks. The Minister gave careful consideration to this assessment, as well as to the earlier advice from the Heritage Council, in making his final decision on this matter earlier this year. This decision was to continue the prohibition of hunting on lands managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The reasons for the Minister's decision extend beyond the considerations of species sustainability addressed by the report of the scientific group and involve issues of amenity for the wider public, conservation of habitat for other non-quarry species and public safety. National parks and wildlife lands have been acquired, generally through the investment of public funds, for the purposes of protecting nature and providing refuges and breeding habitats for wildlife and for the enjoyment of these natural heritage assets by members of the general public. It cannot fairly be claimed that it is unreasonable to prohibit on these lands activities which are inconsistent with the purposes for which the lands were acquired and for which the National Parks and Wildlife Service is managing them.