Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has said that wildlife in the country is protected under the Wildlife Acts, which is true, but who is going to protect the people? Who is going to protect the motorists? Three fatal accidents involving deer have occurred in that area. How many more people must die before we do something about it? I cannot understand it. There was a wall there previously but it was taken down. Why was the wall there in the first place if we were trying to let the deer roam freely? Someone made a wise decision to erect a wall there but now that wall is gone, which poses a danger for motorists.

I know this issue is not in the Minister of State's remit and he cannot answer my questions on it, which is why I would have liked the Minister to be here to respond. I want to know why the wall was taken down. Why do we feel we can do nothing about a stretch of roadway which has seen many accidents involving deer? We can protect the animals and their habitat but we cannot protect the people.