Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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250. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the post-mortem investigations into dolphins found dead off the Mayo coast; if he will now investigate the spate of dead seals as revealed by the Irish Seal Sanctuary. [21506/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Seals are protected under the Wildlife Act and their habitats require protection under the EU Habitats Directive.

In the winter months, officials of my Department responded to information received from the Irish Seal Sanctuary and others on dead seals on the Waterford and Wexford coasts. As set out in my reply to PQ Number 379 of 26th of February 20134, these deaths were investigated by my Department.

My Department has not had recent reports of significant seal deaths. Departmental officials working in coastal areas remain vigilant and will continue to work closely with other law enforcement authorities in such situations.