Danny Healy-Rae urges urgent 'calling' of invasive Sikadir
Danny Healy-Rae pressed the minister on the need to begin the calling of Sikadir, saying they have been declared an alien invasive species and are causing road carnage, farm losses and spreading TB. He demanded the government comply with the EU position and start a full calling of Sikadir without delay.
Scope of the problem
Sikadir are said to be causing daily carnage on public roads, with deaths, injuries and vehicle damage reported. The speech details farmers being adversely affected by crop damage, broken fences and daily losses, and links the presence of Sikadir with the spread of TB in previously unaffected areas.
Calls for government action
Healy-Rae asked when the government and the minister will begin a complete calling of Sikadir, stressing it is now the state’s duty to comply with the EU direction. He pressed the minister to be ready to respond and accelerate measures to address the problem.
Ministerial response and current measures
The minister acknowledged the concern and confirmed the department has an ongoing contract related to the calling of deer. The minister said the department would like the work to proceed at an accelerated rate and noted differing personal views on the target total call, mentioning a desire for a 70% figure and the need to convince others.
Public safety and farming consequences
Both speakers framed the issue around road safety and agricultural impact, emphasising accidents caused by deer on public roads and the economic and health effects on farmers. The debate centred on speeding up official measures to reduce deer numbers in order to protect roads, livestock and crops.
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Minister, in recent days, Sikadir have been declared as an alien invasive species and must be called. I have been highlighting the damage these Sikadir are doing for over 25 years. Every day they're causing carnage on our roads. Many people have been killed, injured, maimed, cars damaged and broken, no more good. Farmers are adversely affected. Sikadir are spreading TB, damaging and devouring crops, breaking fences. Farmers are being robbed daily, every day by these deers. When will this government, and you as a minister, part of it, begin the complete call of the Sikadir, as has been ordained by the EU? It's our duty now. We have to comply with all the other things that the EU brings forward, and we have to continue with it. Now they're saying that the Sikadir will have to be called. When will this government begin the call? Minister, can you be ready to respond? Deputy, you're 100% correct in raising this very serious matter. Because it is a matter of major concern from a road safety point of view, from the spread of TB, which the department doesn't acknowledge it to be the major cause that maybe yourself and myself would agree that it probably is. Because we have situations where we didn't have TB before, we didn't have deer, now we have deer, now we have TB. But to answer your question, as you know, the department has engaged a contract with regard to the calling of deer, which is ongoing. We'd like for it to be going ahead at an accelerated rate, and quicker than it is at present. We both have our personal views on what the total call should be, because it should be open 70%, trying to convince everybody else that it should be that figure. We have a bit of a battle in our hands. But your concern is right, it's correct, and it is a matter that the department and this government will be continuing to keep on top of it. If nothing else, but in the interest of road safety and the amount of accidents we have on our roads every day because of deer straying onto the public roads. Thank you.
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