Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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22. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions planned with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and representatives of the farming organisations in relation to ongoing issues being encountered by landowners and farmers in maintaining the habitat of the hen harrier; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31153/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Hen Harrier is protected under the European Union’s Birds Directive and 6 Special Protection Areas have been designated for the conservation of the species. The birds are under threat due to a number of factors, such as the reclamation of upland open habitats for agriculture, the development of wind farms and the maturing of the large-scale forests planted in upland areas. An Inter-Departmental Steering Group has been established to draw up a Threat Response Plan for the Hen Harrier, comprising representatives from my own Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The Group will examine all of the issues at hand, including forestry consents, planning permissions for wind farms, and financial supports for farmers, with a view to determining the appropriate course of further action. The Group will meet next week.

After the Group has begun work, a wider Consultative Committee will be established, to include representation from the sectors likely to be affected by the outcomes of the Plan, including farming, forestry and wind energy, as well as non-governmental organisations. Through the Consultative Committee, the views of those affected will be sought and incorporated into the work of the Steering Group.

I should say that officials of my Department have already had significant engagement with farming organisations in regard to this issue.