Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am sure that at this point the Minister of State is aware of the existence of two separate reports outlining where the OPW has clearly breached wildlife protection laws, in both Emo Court, County Laois and Barryscourt Castle, County Cork, by disturbing bat roosts without the proper derogation licence. Before I get into the details of the Emo Court case in particular, which is a case I have been working on for a number of months now, I must say that the manner in which I have been treated by the Department in trying to get to the bottom of the issue has been a disgrace. It started off with flat denials from the Department in November 2021, when it stated: "The OPW has not been involved in the destruction of a bat roost at Emo Court House." The Department stated that the works were being carried out under a derogation licence. When I sought that licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, first I found out that licences are not publically available and must be requested. When I requested the licences for the works that were being carried out on Emo Court, I was sent a licence dated for September 2020. I know that the works were carried out in December 2019. When I followed up and asked if I could have the derogation licence that covered the works of December 2019, I was met with radio silence. I am still waiting on a response. I then submitted a freedom of information request. I have to hand some of what I received, if the Minister of State wants to pay attention.