Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. My colleague, Senator Noone, who is my party's spokesperson in this area, has asked me to apologise for her absence and to express her full support for this Bill. The Minister has given a full explanation of the reason this technical legislation is before the House. He has assured us that more substantial primary legislation will be introduced within a few years. Many items can be considered and put on the agenda between now and then. It might be helpful if the Minister were to return to this House at some stage in the next 12 months not to debate a particular Bill but to engage in a broader debate on wildlife. That might be useful for the Minister and for the Members of this House. Some of those issues, including those raised by the previous speaker, could be ventilated before that legislation is published.

The Minister has pointed out that the Bill before the House today is necessary to allow people to continue their lawful hunting activities. Something in the Irish tradition or the Irish mindset puts the ability to hunt, shoot and fish at the core of our being, particularly from a rural perspective. We have to ensure that tradition is maintained and developed in a balanced, fair and reasonable fashion. We are not taking any major steps today other than what is necessary to ensure things are done in a legal fashion. The Minister's Department deals with heritage and the Gaeltacht but there was once a Department for forestry and wildlife. I recall a story told by some of my more mature colleagues. In the mid-1970s there was the unfortunate experience with the late President, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who resigned from office. There was a Cabinet reshuffle. At the core of the unfortunate debate at the time was the late Deputy and Minister, Paddy Donegan. The then Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, came into the Dáil to announce his new Cabinet line-up, going through finance, social welfare, health, etc. The last man on the list was Deputy Patrick Donegan. The Taoiseach announced he was appointing the Deputy as Minister for forestry and "wild life", stressing the latter part of the portfolio. This Minister is now the successor in that regard, in charge of wildlife, and I am sure he will act in a very balanced fashion.

The previous speaker expanded on some very interesting areas, particularly from the point of view of young children from both town and country, and the balance between the two. Country children present a very different view of the natural world from that expressed by their town friends. We must ensure that continues. This is a very small step. The Minister's important task will be his legislation of 2014. Before he introduces that legislation, perhaps he might have a more general debate with us on issues that might concern people in certain regards and on which we would have ideas and suggestions that might be helpful.

I support the Bill and wish it a speedy passage through the House. What the Minister is doing today is necessary and will ensure that the law will be maintained, that people can go about their country sport pursuits in a legal fashion and that these traditions which have existed in this country not just for generations, but for centuries, can continue.