Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I am using today's Commencement matter to raise the important issue of wildlife crime. The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was crystal clear in stating that the State has failed to adequately enforce existing laws and policies to protect biodiversity. Wildlife crimes, such as disturbing bats, illegal hare hunting, badger baiting or the destruction of habitats that provide clean water, clean air and healthy soils, all contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Weak enforcement in this country is sending the clear message that wildlife crime is tolerated and is not taken seriously. Unfortunately, despite some high-profile cases of illegal wildfires and poisonings, there has been a failure to crack down on wildlife crime in any meaningful way.

I will provide some statistics to highlight that failure. The records from when the Wildlife Act came in show that between 1977 and 1987, there were 752 cases, which was an average of 75 prosecutions per year. However, only 118 wildlife crime cases have closed successfully since 2020, which is an average of 39.3 per year. This is a drop of 48% in prosecutions per year. This is not because the crimes are not happening, unfortunately. I know that this subject is not in the Minister of State’s portfolio, but she will more than likely cite year-on-year increase of 39% from 2022 to 2023, which is up to 43 prosecutions. While that is a step in the right direction, we are starting from a very low level. This is therefore an example of shifting baseline syndrome.

I also know that in the 1980s, a target was set for the number of prosecutions per year. That was a target of 200 and it was not reached, given the average of 75. The recently launched national biodiversity action plan does not contain a specific target for prosecutions. Instead, it just has the vague ambition to seek to increase compliance with wildlife legislation in co-operation with agencies through enhanced detection, enforcement and awareness raising.

My first question for the Minister of State is whether she or any of the agencies agree that there should be a specific target? Should we be setting a target and, if so, what should that target be? The citizens’ assembly has called on the State to take prompt, decisive, and urgent action to address biodiversity loss and restoration.We need a zero-tolerance approach to wildlife crime. There was some optimism, I have to say, at the start of this Government's term, with a focus on wildlife crime making it into the programme for Government. However, that dissipated when we saw the U-turn on a dedicated wildlife crime unit. We know that one of the main barriers to increasing prosecutions is that the responsibilities of the NPWS are so wide ranging and require skill sets that are extremely specialised. Bringing prosecutions is clearly a complicated task so the only real way to bridge this gap, as the experts have said, is to establish the promised wildlife crime unit, a go-to hub to support regional staff with the procedures for detection, investigation, putting a prosecution file together and bringing it to the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

Does the Minister of State agree that a target would be helpful to set the agenda and drive the ambition in the context of a zero-tolerance approach to wildlife crime? Will the Government reconsider its position on establishing a wildlife crime unit which all of the experts have said is essential for tackling such crime?

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response. I am glad she agrees that a target is always useful to keep the focus. I welcome the official response, particularly with regard to the public consultation.Apart from being passionate about wildlife crime, I raise this question because I support an Oxfam-led initiative to help grassroots groups made up of communities, young people and ordinary citizens to hold elected officials like us to account. In this instance, the wildlife rehabilitation hospital was very helpful in providing some of the background information. If the Minister of State is going to revert to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, about the wildlife crime unit, it would like other questions to be answered around discrepancy on a regional basis in prosecutions, additional resources that will be put in place and how awareness-raising will take place.

Boots on the ground are important but so is a professional staff with skills for bringing prosecutions. The people on the ground are doing fantastic work but we also need that skill set to deliver on prosecutions. I thank the Minister of State for the response. I look forward to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, responding in writing to those questions.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring back those questions to the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan. His office is directly opposite mine on the corridor. I have no doubt he will also engage with this Oxfam-led initiative.

Adherence to environmental rules is a safeguard for preserving biodiversity health and sustainable progress over time. It is difficult to process the drivers for the loss of biodiversity through deliberate disregard of the law by some. There is no doubt action is needed to thwart this. The NPWS, in collaboration with other authorities and public support, remains committed to taking action to protect our nature and biodiversity. It is clear the majority of people want to protect nature. We see Tidy Towns groups the length and breadth of the country working hard in their communities. There is an onus on all of us to enable them and to deter and prosecute those who do not support or protect nature. Education and increasing awareness, together with citizen reporting, are essential elements in safeguarding nature and helping to prevent wildlife crime. If a suspected wildlife crime or possible breach of wildlife legalisation has taken place, reports can be made to the local NPWS office or An Garda Síochána. Contact details are available who anyone who wants to do this. We are at a turning point in the way we view and think about the natural world and our place within it. There are an awful lot of good people who want to see the natural world retained and looked after. I will bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister of State.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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It is an extremely important issue. We wish Oxfam the best with its incredibly important work. I thank the Minister of State for taking five Commencement Matters. Her time is valuable.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am multitasking.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I know she is busy. We appreciate it because it is important that Ministers and Ministers of State come in and are accountable to the House. She is always very obliging in that regard.