Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his proposals to limit the cormorant population in the River Suir, bearing in mind the problems caused to the salmon smolt population by the rapidly increasing cormorant population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13987/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The cormorant is a protected wild bird under the Wildlife Acts and my Department does not have a policy for controlling or limiting the cormorant population. Application may be made to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department for a licence under section 42 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, to scare, capture or kill protected wild birds or protected wild animals that are causing serious damage to a fishery. Such applications would be determined by my Department having regard to all relevant considerations, including that of conservation.