Seanad debates

Thursday, 25 November 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Pippa HackettPippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

"Do not be despondent." So began a recent email to me from Mr. Fergal Monaghan, project manager of the Hen Harrier Project, which is supported by my Department. He was referring to this year's provisional breeding results of this protected bird, which were disappointing, to say the least. However, he went on to say that all of these things have ups and downs, good years and bad years, but it is the overall trend that is important. What we must do is to provide these birds with an environment that makes that improvement possible, reduces their vulnerability to predators and minimises disturbance by human activity.

During the summer, I had the opportunity to visit one of the hen harrier sites in the Slieve Bloom Mountains on the border between counties Laois and Offaly, where I had the chance to speak with some of the farmers involved in the project. There was a great sense of pride and sense of place that comes with collective community engagement and that brings an area to life.

One of the most important places for the hen harrier is Athea, County Limerick. I have not yet had the opportunity to visit but I understand that the hen harrier is held in such a position of pride that the village has changed the sign on its outskirts to include a hen harrier. The village has a landscaped, hen harrier walk along the river. There is even a statue of a hen harrier in the village. Positivity among the people who share a landscape is probably one of the best protections that any species could have, perhaps even better than any number of designations, laws, regulations or new rangers. We need to harness that.

I witnessed that same positivity clearly last week in County Offaly when I was honoured to be invited to attend St. Brendan's Community School in Birr for its relaunch of the Killaun Bog boardwalk almost 30 years after it was originally launched by former President, Mary Robinson. This is a heart-lifting story of a community working together and the sense of pride of place that comes with that. This community was ahead of its time in laying that boardwalk through the stunning Killaun Bog and it was great to have the chance to meet and talk with Mr. Mick Spain, one of the people who laid the original boardwalk all those years ago. The evening was made extra special because renowned botanist and local man, Mr. John Feehan, was launching his latest book, When the Nightjar Returns, which is all about the history of Killaun Bog, its rich habitat and what the future may hold. "A rainforest on our doorstep" was how Mr. Feehan described it, and he is right. This is an extraordinary place and exceptional too are the community and the students of St. Brendan's who are so intent on conserving it.

At the end of the day, nature needs our help and the story of Killaun Bog is a shining light for many other communities across the country that are passionate about protecting nature, preserving what is there and, where possible, restoring it to its former glory. There are some who wish to continue to plunder our natural resources but I want to champion those who wish to protect it, such as the students of St. Brendan's whose understanding and appreciation of nature, climate action and biodiversity is encouraging. I have no doubt they will be the driving force for a brighter future. Let us hope that one day the nightjar will indeed make its return to Killaun Bog.

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