Will the Minister outline the provisions of section 19?

Existing statutory provisions for the protection of wild birds are contained in two 1930 Acts, the Wild Birds Protection Act and the Game Preservation Act. These Acts, however, have severe limitations from a conservation viewpoint. Under the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1930

(a) Protection is afforded only during the nesting season;

(b) protection does not extend to nests or eggs;

(c) a protection order could only be made by the Minister at the behest of a local authority, and

(d) the period of validity of such order is not clear.

Under the Game Preservation Act, 1930

(a) protection is confined to game species, with provision for “ open seasons ”, i.e. times for game shooting;

(b) protection is only against taking or killing; and

(c) protection does not extend to nests or eggs.

It is proposed to repeal the two 1930 Acts in toto. The present Bill generally is intended not only to replace those statutes but also to improve on them by removing anomalies, and providing additional protective measures and so forth, all aimed at ensuring adequate measures to protect and conserve wild birds.

That is fairly clear.

I am told by people interested in the whole question of predators and conservation generally that crows, rooks, jays and ravens should be in that list. They are excluded.

We do not exclude them. The Third Schedule is the schedule which contains the black list, the list of birds not protected which may be shot.

The Deputy wants rooks and jays protected, does he?

These are mainly predators.

These are pests and they are not protected. Might I suggest we leave the Schedule until we come to it? Section 19 merely says all birds other than those included in the Third Schedule.

Will we have a chance of looking at the Schedule again?

Of course.

When will we be coming to it?

As soon as we can.

On the last occasion I was speaking about different areas and different types of conservation in different areas. The Minister has these birds on a black list. Would this be the general principle for all areas? Is that right?

That is right.

Where there is a bird on the black list and there is an area where there are not many of that species, is there any provision for that?

That can be covered by section 22 which deals with rare or endangered species.