Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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211. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether allowing wood pigeons to be shot for a 12-month period between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022 breaches the EU Birds Directive; and if he will remove the birds from the directive derogations or reduce the period during which they may be shot. [44272/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The annual State wide Wild Birds Declaration was signed on 30 April 2021 in compliance with the EU Birds Directive.

The wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is listed in Annex II, Part A of the Birds Directive.  Owing to their population level, geographical distribution and reproductive rate throughout the European Community, Article 8 of the Birds Directive permits bird species listed under that Annex to be hunted under national legislation.  However, subject to derogation, national laws must ensure that hunting of these bird species during the rearing season or during the various stages of reproduction is prohibited. 

As such, Wood Pigeons are listed in Part I of the Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) Orders 1979 to 2012.  They may be hunted during the period beginning 1 November in each year and ending on 31 January immediately following that year throughout the State; except in exclusion zones, referred to as Wildfowl Sanctuaries, at 68 different locations throughout the State.

Article 9 of the Birds Directive, however, allows Member States to derogate from the prohibition of hunting during the protected season for a number of reasons, including to prevent serious damage to crops.  Therefore, by way of the Declaration signed in April, the wood pigeon is permitted to be hunted between 1 May 2021 and 30 April 2022, for the specific reason to prevent serious damage to arable crops, including cereals, legumes and brassicas.

The method of control specified in the Declaration (‘Shooting with rifle or shotgun’) complies with the requirements of Article 8 of the Birds Directive which prohibits the use of all means, arrangements or methods used for the large-scale or non-selective capture or killing of birds.

The Declaration, which expires on 30 April 2022, is subject to annual review. My Department routinely seeks views of the public in relation to the control of certain wild bird species before such Declarations are made. My Department is committed to carrying out a review of all the species on the Declaration list on a phased basis.  This year, for example, a survey is being undertaken on the gull population.  The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department intends to carry out a review of the issue of pigeon damage to crops, including the collection of new scientific data, with a view to informing decisions for future declarations.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason threatened, red-listed birds of high conservation concern are included in the latest open season order; and if he will remove them from the order. [44273/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Biodiversity, including birdlife, is vulnerable to adverse impacts from many different pressures, including hunting. It is crucial for birdlife in Ireland that we fully understand how our practices and actions can cumulatively impact on the viability of vulnerable bird species. 

The wild bird hunting season opened on September 1st and I am concerned at the potentially unsustainable hunting of birds of conservation concern in Ireland.

As outlined in the 2019 Article 12 report of my Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the conservation status of a number of species that are permitted to be hunted at certain times of the year under the Open Seasons Order is declining. These species include Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Woodcock, Shoveler and Snipe. It is difficult to assess the sustainability of this hunting, due to a number of data gaps, including on the numbers of birds hunted annually. 

It is clear, however, that the conservation of certain species will require new ways forward – based on scientific evidence, collaboration and strategic action. Any hunting of birds of conservation concern in Ireland must be sustainable and not have an adverse impact on the species. 

To this end, I have established a working group in NPWS to determine the next steps to be taken to achieve this, and to invite stakeholders to participate in a collaborative dialogue in the coming months to develop a plan for a sustainable future for these species in Ireland. In that, I want to respect fully the views of the various stakeholders; I accept that some may be diametrically opposed. Nonetheless, I am keen to find common ground. 

By the time the season comes around in 2022, the NPWS will have concluded a paper for me on the scientific and other types of information that must be collected to inform our assessments of whether these species may be hunted sustainably, and what is to be done in the short, medium and long term.

This will include recommendations on the removal of certain species from the Order in time for next year’s season if appropriate.