Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1301. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will set out, including implementation dates, the procedural, licensing, publicity and customer service arrangements her Department has made towards continuing to meet these important responsibilities since the commencement of Covid-19 restrictions on 12 March 2020 with regard to the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended and Article 9 of the birds directive, and her responsibilities under this legislation to derogate in the interests public health and safety and for the protection of air safety, crops, flora and fauna and others. [9620/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department continues to operate and provide the services under my responsibility in line with Government Guidance on public health relating to Covid-19. National Parks and Wildlife Service staff were designated essential workers from the outset of the Covid 19 related restriction and continued to perform their full range of functions.

All essential operational work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in relation to the protection of flora and fauna is continuing. This includes managing our national parks and nature reserves for nature conservation and also keeping them open for local access.  The NPWS continues to provide wildlife and CITES licensing and other services to customers across the country and also continues to provide conservation advice on flora and fauna in the context of my role as a statutory consultee in relation to planning and development and on referrals from other consent authorities.  NPWS continues to make 2020 annual payments under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme. In addition, as the competent authority in the State for a number of important international conventions and agreements for nature, NPWS continues to service these and maintain Ireland’s participation in efforts to halt biodiversity loss globally.NPWS is actively involved in combatting Wildlife Crime and is providing assistance and advice in relation to the management of wildfires around the country

I have recently signed the Wild Bird Declarations for the period up to 30 April 2021 which allows the killing and capturing of certain wild bird species where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or air safety.  These Declarations are published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at .