Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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555. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a copy of each application for a licence to carry out control actions on seagulls including the reason for each application; and the case made to justify each application from 1 January 2016 to date in 2018. [40650/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a copy of each licence granted that permitted control actions on seagulls including site reports from rangers in circumstances in which such arose; the determination made towards the granting of each licence; and the reason for granting each licence by reference to EU legislation and or national legislation and pertinent EU or national derogation provisions. [40651/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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557. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a copy of each decision to refuse a licence sought to carry out control actions on seagulls including site reports from rangers in circumstances in which such arose since 1 January 2016; the determination made towards the refusal to grant such a licence; and the reason since for refusing such a licence by reference to EU legislation and or national legislation. [40652/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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558. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a licence was issued for public safety reasons only with regard to all licences issued by her Department since 1 January 2016 permitting control action on seagulls, as distinct from public health and safety as is specified in the EU birds directive legislation and derogation provisions; the evidential basis for such a determination; and the distinctions made to justify preclusion of the public health segment of a composite phrase in the legislation. [40653/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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559. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the evidential basis for determinations with regard to all licences issued by her Department since 1 January 2016 permitting control action on seagulls in cases in which licences were issued for public health and safety reasons; and the precise evidential characteristics that warranted recognition of the complete legally specified public health and safety reason provisions. [40654/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 555 to 559, inclusive, together.

There are provisions under sections 22 and 42 of the Wildlife Acts allowing for the granting of licences and permits to control bird species, including seagulls, in certain circumstances. These applications are examined in my Department on a case by case basis and a decision on each individual application is made in consultation with regional officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.

Given the volume of material sought here, I am arranging for my Department to provide the Deputy with information in tabular format on the number of such licences/permits issued by my Department since January 2016 to date to control seagulls. The information will include details as to the control method employed, such as the removal of nests or eggs, the location in each case and the reasons for granting the licence/permit. Details will also be provided on the applications for the control of seagulls refused by my Department during the same period.