Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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778. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will amend section 22 of the Wildlife Act 1976 to ensure it conforms with the EU birds and habitats directives. [41141/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Section 22 provides for the enforcement of protection of wild birds. It is an offence, except in accordance with a licence issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to hunt a protected wild bird, to injure a protected wild bird, to wilfully take, remove, destroy, injure or mutilate the eggs or nest, or to wilfully disturb a protected wild bird on or near a nest containing eggs or unflown young.

Section 9, as amended by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, provides that nothing shall be allowed to be done by licence or permit issued under the Act that would contravene the requirements and obligations of the Birds Directive or the Habitats Directive.

In 2022, I intend to commence a review of the Wildlife Acts as part of the Government’s commitment to review the protection (including enforcement of relevant legislation) of our natural heritage.