Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boylan for raising this really important issue. I am responding on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Noonan. It is not an area in which I have huge expertise but I come from a rural area and am well equipped to know what wildlife crime means. It is a widespread issue that poses a serious threat to our biodiversity and the sustainable development of countless communities. While there is no universally agreed definition of what constitutes wildlife crime, it can be described as any action that contravenes current legislation governing the protection of wildlife but it probably goes beyond that as well.

Ireland's fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030, the first national biodiversity action plan to be published on a statutory basis, was launched by the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan on 25 January and takes an all-of-government and all-of-society approach to protecting nature. The plan includes targets to ensure that the legislative framework for biodiversity conservation is robust, clear and enforceable.

Senator Boylan asked me a direct question which I am happy to answer. Targets are always important and they help to really drive on a service. From a personal perspective, I do like to see targets being set and being met. Senator Boylan also asked if the Government will reconsider its position on the wildlife crime unit. I will have to go back to the Minister of State on that and ask him to engage with her directly on her specific questions.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is strengthening action on wildlife crime within the NPWS itself and through strategic collaboration with other enforcement and regulatory authorities such as An Garda Síochána. The work of NPWS staff across the organisation has seen a 39% increase in prosecution cases taken in 2023 compared to 2022 figures. Wildlife crime prosecutions taken by the NPWS include illegal hunting of protected wildlife, such as disturbance to badger setts, damage to protected habitats and unlawful destruction of vegetation in hedgerows, to name but a few. The NPWS capability to take more enforcement action, detect and prevent wildlife crime is being greatly enhanced through the recruitment of additional NPWS staff to support this work. This means that there will be more boots on the grounds patrolling, investigating, enforcing and educating. Education is really important here. The NPWS is also recruiting ecologists to add scientific expertise and ballast across the service to enhance its wildlife crime efforts. Strengthening relationships with other enforcement and regulatory authorities such as the Customs is also pivotal. NPWS is building on a joint protocol with An Garda Síochána whose members have powers and functions to enforce wildlife legislation similar to NPWS authorised officers. NPWS is deepening collaboration, has clearer lines of communication and is providing mutual support on wildlife crime issues. Additionally, NPWS is reviewing the Wildlife Act to improve its enforceability and a public consultation on this will be announced shortly. The key word here is enforceability. It is really important that the extra boots on the ground will enable us to enforce the Wildlife Act.