Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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528. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has established a consultative committee to agree a programme of action in relation to the seagull problem in certain urban areas; the work programme of this committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40793/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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A review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive was completed by ANIAR Ecology last year.The consultants in their report made a number of recommendations in relation to seagulls including the setting up of a group to agree a programme of action in relation to the seagull situation in the certain urban areas. In line with the recommendations in the consultant’s report, I agreed to the formation of a Consultative Committee,with an independent chair, whose membership includes representatives of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, Fingal County Council, local community representatives and a conservation group.

The remit of the Consultative Committee is not confined to one particular urban area given the widespread range of seagulls. The Committee has already met and I understand that a further meeting of the Committee will take place in the next few weeks.