Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Under the terms of the EU Birds Directive, all EU member States, including Ireland, are bound to take measures to protect all wild birds and their habitats. The Directive allows member States to make derogations from its protective measures where certain wild bird species covered by the declaration are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or to air safety.

The declarations, which are attached, renew the derogations for the period May to August 2009 and exclude the use of meat baits for the purposes of the control of certain wild bird pest species by means of poison which was introduced with effect from 1st January, 2008.  

The Minister has signed 4 declarations for the 4 month period May to August for the provinces of Connaught, Leinster, Munster and the administrative counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.   

A separate countrywide derogation is issued in respect of air safety.

 Declaration regarding Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan (pdf, 502 kb)

Declaration regarding Leinster (pdf, 497 kb)

Declaration regarding Munster (pdf, 498 kb)

Declaration regarding Connaught (pdf, 499 kb)

Declaration regarding species representing a threat to air safety (pdf, 169 kb) 

Following a decision in Tullamore District Court on the 9th July the State withdrew all charges relating to the recent Pigeon Shooting Case. It is now legal to shoot pigeon on stubble.