Ban on bait used against birds of prey

THE GOVERNMENT has outlawed the use of any type of meat, fish, egg or other animal substance as bait in an effort to protect the reintroduction of birds of prey into the Irish habitat.

Anyone convicted under the new law will face fines of up to €5,000 or imprisonment for a term of up to 12 months, or both.

The move follows the poisoning of 12 eagles and other large birds of prey in the past year.

The Scottish and Norwegian governments, who license the capture of eagles in their countries for release in Ireland, have expressed concern at the poisonings. In May, the Norwegian ambassador to Ireland Oyvind Nordsletten called for an end to the practice of laying out poisoned meat bait.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley said yesterday he was concerned that poisoning incidents could damage his department’s programme to reintroduce the golden eagle, white-tailed eagle and red kite.

He described the use of poisoned bait as “irresponsible as well as illegal” and said the use of poisons give a “very negative image” of Ireland’s farming and tourism sectors, nationally and internationally. “We now call on everyone to respect the law and protect these birds of prey, which are of real economic value to the rural communities in the release areas,” he added.