Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The amendment was a result of a representation made to me and it was drafted following consultation with various groups. A concern was raised that certain activities might be construed as abandonment. While I consider that neither the re-introduction of wild animals nor the stocking of game birds constitutes abandonment, it is best to remove any doubt. The amendment makes it clear that the section on abandonment does not apply to these areas. We are introducing an add-in after section 14(5) relating to the prohibition on abandonment. We suggest that abandonment does not include release into the wild of an animal normally found in a wild state in Ireland or formally found in a wild state in Ireland as part of a programme to re-introduce animals of that species. It also applies to stocking land with game birds or, if one is raising animals, releasing them into the wild. This could be the case with game birds such as pheasants or if one were trying to implement a restocking programme for certain wild birds or fish which one bred and raised domestically for the purposes of releasing them into the wild. This will not be deemed abandonment under the legislation. It makes sense.