Shell and the Wild Birds of Erris
mayo |
environment |
opinion/analysis 
Saturday July 05, 2008 14:19
by m.m.mccarron
Shell, the State and EU/Irish law
Shell to Sea is currently drawing persistent attention to the flouting of EU/ Irish law in relation to the Wildlife Act of 1985 amended in 1995. It received statutory significance through its signing by the then, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D Higgins
A recent comment in a news item suggests that Michael D Higgins expressed anxiety about the wild bird situation in Erris.
As a Minister of State in the mid-nineties he signed into Irish law , S.I. 31/1995 - European Communities(Conservation of Wild Birds)
( Amendment) Regulations, 1995.
The Explanatory Note on the Statutory Instrument explains the classification of "seven sites as Special Protection Areas in accordance with Article 4 of the Directive and to provide that contravention of the provisions of these Regulations shall constitute an offence".
These seven sites include Blacksod and Broadhaven Bays on the County of Mayo.
Has the State explained to the citizens why this legal instrument is being broken through the netting of the rare sandmartin nests on the machairs of Glengad. Surely the Shell to Sea photograph of a bird which has beaten itself to death in its effort to reach its nest through Shell netting spells out an offence against the said statutory instrument.
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3The situation in Erris is a disgrace; birds' nests netted, bogland ripped up, precious broadleaf trees torn down and left leaning on other trees - and they made sure to do it in the nesting season! All this destruction can't just be put back with a few euros and a fella with a shovel.......it's long-term. It's a crucial question why this is apparently being permitted by the authorities.
Anyone who cares about wildlife, put down your books, grab your binoculars, and come and see what's happening to this beautiful, irreplaceable environment.
Not only are the authorities allowing the intentional destruction of "protected" habitats, they are quite often the ones carrying out the vandalism on the oil companies' behalf. A total disgrace.
Trees pushed aside
Bogslide caused by roadworks
Netting at Glengad
A great tragic picture of a destroyed tree in this time of climate concern.
The miracle is the growth of a tree in the barren bog. Trees have to be carefully nurtured in unfriendly soil. They are few and far as far as the eye can see and differ from the forestry trees which grow quickly in the bog. Where are the inspectors from National Parks and Wildlife Services? Worth finding out the process by which derogation from law is achieved - who decides, where and when?
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