Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1215. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 19 September 2019, if there has been recent developments in respect of discussions with the REACH committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45440/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 37 of 19 September my Department is aware that the EU draft Regulation on the use of lead in gunshot could provide a range of difficulties to transition to new guns/gunshot for many gun owners in Ireland, including farmers and hunters, as many gun owners could have to make alternative arrangements, in many cases to purchase new guns. I am committed to ensuring that this matter is addressed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders and that all potential impacts are fully considered. This process of consultation is continuing. All proposals will be comprehensively evaluated, including extended lead-in times.

In this regard, my Department recently submitted a document for circulation to the REACH Committee of the European Union suggesting an extended lead-in time to enable hunters and farmers and other stakeholders in the country to make the necessary arrangements.