Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans, whether by the direct legislation route or indirectly through the use of his power, to regulate or ban the shooting of game. [18420/10]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to expand the numbers and sizes of game sanctuaries here. [18423/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 115 and 116 together.

Firstly, I wish to state that I have no plans to ban the shooting of game.

The Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 provide for the making of orders relating to the provision of open seasons for the hunting of protected birds and mammals. These orders are reviewed from time to time, taking account of the conservation needs of individual species. For example, during the freeze which occurred last winter, I considered it necessary to curtail the open season for waterfowl for approximately two weeks.

Although the hunting of birds is covered in general by the orders providing for open seasons, individual licences are required under Section 30 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended) for hunting on foreshore, lakes and inland waters belonging to the State. While such licences are applicable to the hunting of fauna generally, they are in practice obtained for the hunting of wildfowl, and are subject to the provisions of the open season orders.

Wildfowl Sanctuaries around the country, where hunting of birds is prohibited, have been in place since 1979, under the Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) Order, 1979. I have no plans at this time to add to the number or size of Wildfowl Sanctuaries. Recreational hunting is also prohibited in Nature Reserves and in National Parks. I have no plans to increase the numbers of Nature Reserves or National Parks at this time.