Minister in U-turn over shoot ban on pigeons
THE Heritage
Minister has done a U-turn on banning the shooting of wood pigeons at certain times of the year after pressure from rural TDs and farmers.
Josepha Madigan had decided to ban the shooting of wood pigeons – which eat arable crops such as wheat and barley – during June, July and August.
But in addition to uproar among rural Fine Gael TDs – who were only quelled by FG chairman Martin Heydon – the move under the Wild Birds State-Wide Declaration attracted unprecedented levels of cross-party interest.
Concerns were raised by
Independents such as Carol Nolan and
Mattie McGrath, Sinn Féin TDs Matt Carthy, Chris Andrews and Sorcha Clarke, and Fianna Fáil deputies such as Niall Collins, Jackie Cahill, Cathal Crowe, Charlie McConalogue and Brendan Smith. In a chilly response, Ms Madigan confirmed the U-turn in a series of Dáil questions.
She noted that the renewal of the Wild Birds State-Wide Declaration was subject to consultation with relevant stakeholders such as hunting, conservation and farming bodies as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The
Minister said she had ‘made the decision at the time taking account of scientific advice provided as part of the consultation’.
This raised concerns about the full year inclusion of the nefarious pigeon on the basis of limited evidence to suggest that wood pigeons cause ‘serious damage’ to crops during the summer.
Studies of wood pigeon food preference in Ireland from 2013 have shown that in spring, their diet is dominated by fruit and tree
seeds.
Ms Madigan added that this study ‘further highlighted that cereal crops were only the preferred food during the autumn months’.
Since the Declaration was signed, however, the Minister said she had talks with farmers and added: ‘In light of potential damage highlighted by farming sector interests, I have decided the status quo be reinstated for the wood pigeon this year.’
One source said: ‘Josepha was not at all happy; she was like a briar, but the lads, the farmers, were up to high dudgeon.’
Another said: ‘That department has to be taken in hand. It’s full of green fifth columnists.
‘You can’t cut a hedge, go coursing, and now you can’t even shoot a few pigeons.’