Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Departmental Policies
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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775. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the use of decoy crows for the purpose of protecting crops and animal feed by farmers has not been approved by him pursuant to his powers to approve that purpose under Section 35(4) of the Wildlife Acts, as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57134/23]
Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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All wild birds in Ireland are protected under EU law, namely the Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC) adopted in 1979. They are also protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended.
Section 35(1)(c) states that a person shall not “use a stuffed or artificial decoy in the form of any bird for the purpose of hunting any protected wild birds, other than wood pigeons, wild duck and wild geese”. The section confines the use of decoys to these species only.
Section 35(4) of the Act does not give the Minister any power to approve the use of decoy crows for the purpose of protecting crops and animal feed.
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