Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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335. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the consultation carried out with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence with regard to the draft EU Commission regulation amending Annex 17 to EC Regulation No. 1907/2006 to ban the use lead gunshot over and within 100 metres of Ramsar defined wetlands; if she will provide the materials, correspondence, briefings and reports relating to such consultation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21103/20]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I refer the Deputy to the replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 408 and 409 of 30 July 2020.

The current position is that the issue was further discussed at the REACH meeting held on 3 September.Notwithstanding my Department’s concerns on the draft Regulation including in relation to the transition period, given that we are committed to phasing out lead shot in and around wetlands, Ireland indicated at the meeting that it would support the draft Regulation.

A vote was taken at the meeting on the draft Regulation and it was passed by the necessary majority with Ireland voting to support the measure.The draft Regulation will now be sent to the Council and European Parliament for scrutiny for a period of 3 months.

The European Commission have confirmed that both military and police personnel are not excluded from the draft Regulation but it is our understanding that as gunshot is not used by these forces it should not impact on them. However, the Department have had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality and will have further discussions with that Department and the Department of Defence on the draft Regulation.