Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action his officials or bodies under his remit will take to relocate the seals that are currently feeding off salmon at the River Liffey hatchery at Islandbridge run by a club (details supplied) in view of the fact that said seals are not operating in their natural habitat, and that they are single handedly preventing the Liffey from reaching the number of salmon required to allow for re-opening for fishing purposes; if his attention has been drawn to the tourism potential of fishing along the Liffey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4992/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Both Irish species of seal, the grey and harbour (or common) seal, are protected under the Wildlife Acts and the EU Habitats Directive. Seals sometimes follow migratory fish and may from time to time be found some distance up rivers. Under Section 42 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (as amended) if seals are found to be causing serious damage to other fauna, to a fishery or to aquaculture installations they may be scared, captured or killed on receipt of a permit issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department.

An individual or organisation who is experiencing problems with seals can apply to the Licensing Section, NPWS, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan for a permit. Any decision to issue a permit will be made by the appropriate scientific staff and the regional staff from the area concerned. In 2007, 3 permits were issued to shoot a stated number of seals which were causing serious damage in fisheries. However, the shooting of seals in a built-up area such as Islandbridge raises safety issues which are dealt with under the Firearms Acts. My Department does not have any plans to relocate individual seals; however the club in question may wish to make an application under Section 42 of the Wildlife Act (as amended). Any application should include all relevant information to show that serious damage is being caused.