Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of persons subject to lamping on their lands; the protection, if any, his Department may provide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7367/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Lamping is the practice of hunting animals at night, in most cases of deer. It is illegal to hunt animals at night under the Wildlife Acts, save where specific exemptions are provided under licence.

My Department is aware of the illegal killing of deer in certain areas of the country, both during the day and at night. Staff from my Department have carried out increased number of patrols, including night patrols, where there has been incidents of increased illegal deer killings. Persons involved in such illegal activity are, of course, subject to prosecution.

Where applications are being made under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to cull deer, the use of lamps to carry out this activity at night may be considered, subject to certain conditions. Such permission is only given where there are substantial practical difficulties with effective culling over large areas by daylight.