Enforcement of wildlife protections
The Minister outlined enforcement by wildlife rangers, authorised forestry staff and the Gardaí, alongside habitat conservation. He did not have prosecution figures for harm to endangered species but offered to obtain them.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the measures his Department take to protect the species of wildlife which are deemed to be endangered under the Wildlife Act, 1976.
Comment on this
(Cavan-Monaghan): My Department exercise a wide variety of functions in administering the control and licensing provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1976, and are also implementing a programme of habitat conservation in the interest of species protection.
In so far as enforcement of the Act is concerned, the Department have appointed 49 wildlife rangers and, in the case of State forest property, some 500 forester personnel have been duly authorised to enforce the Act. Members of the Garda Síochána are, of course, also empowered to ensure compliance with the Act.
Comment on this
Has the Minister any figures regarding the number of prosecutions taken against people who injured or killed endangered species?