Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
223. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which areas will be classified as wetlands by her Department in terms of the proposed banning by the European Commission of lead pellet firearm cartridges for use in wetland areas in the EU; the mapping technology under consideration to aid this approach; if there will be a public consultation period established to hear from stakeholders on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45928/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the Agreement in 2003. The agreement includes a commitment that “Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands as soon as possible in accordance with self-imposed and published timetables." This is because there is slow accumulation of lead from shot in wetlands where hunting occurs. The lead is generally harmful in the environment and can also be consumed by wildfowl.

Since the Agreement was signed, the European Commission has published a draft Regulation for consideration by Member States on the use of lead shot in wetlands following a report on the matter by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). It is my understanding that the proposal, should it ultimately progress into law, would make provision for a lead-in time to facilitate the making of arrangements to source alternatives to lead shot.

My Department is aware that a ban on using lead in gunshot would raise a number of issues which would need to be considered including the mapping of wetlands and issues surrounding a transition to new guns/gunshot for many gun owners in Ireland, including farmers and hunters.

I am committed to ensuring that a transition to non-lead options would be addressed in consultation with stakeholders. My Department recently submitted a document for circulation to the REACH Committee of the European Union suggesting an extended lead-in time to enable hunters and farmers and other stakeholders in the country to make the necessary arrangements.

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
588. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46088/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No 282 of 10th October last and wish to confirm that the position is unchanged from that time. For the Deputy's convenience, the relevant details in respect of the six Acts brought forward by my Department that been signed into law since 2011, are again set out in the following table.

Name of Act Date Act signed into law
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2012 24 July 2012
Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 25 July 2012
National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015 10 December 2015
National Archives (Amendment) Act 2018* 14 July 2018
Heritage Act 2018 18 July 2018
Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 2018 24th December 2018

*Act has not yet been commenced

The position in relation to post-enactment reports undertaken by my Department in respect of these Acts is set out below.

The purpose of the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015 was to place the National Concert Hall on a statutory footing and provide for appropriate reporting and accounting to the Minister and onwards to the Oireachtas, while not impinging on curatorial independence. A post enactment report in respect of this legislation was lodged in the Oireachtas library on Monday 15 July 2019.

The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2012, extended arrangements set out in the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 regarding provisions that deemed all holders of valid firearm certificates issued for shotguns between August 1st2009 and July 31st2012 to be the holders of a hunting licence under the Wildlife Acts for the purposes of hunting game bird and hare species. Given that the practical effect of this change was considered minimal, it has not been considered necessary to undertake a post enactment report.

An tAcht na Gaeltachta 2012 provided for the introduction of a language planning process, primarily in Gaeltacht areas, as set out in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and for changes in the size and method of appointment of members to the board of arna Gaeltachta. As the full impact of both of these provisions will only become fully evident over the course of an extended period the appropriate timing for the undertaking of a Post Enactment Report of this Act remains under consideration.

The conduct of post enactment reports in respect of the National Archives (Amendment) Act 2018, the Heritage Act 2018, and the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 2018, all of which were enacted in 2018, will also be considered in due course.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
589. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the regulation to ban lead shot; the proposed regulation and changes or amendments she is considering with regard to same; the date the regulations are to be enforced; and if she will provide additional information in this regard. [46159/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
In 2003 Ireland signed up to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) which commits Ireland to phasing out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands. This is to combat the slow accumulation of lead from shot in wetlands where hunting occurs. The lead is harmful in the environment and can also be consumed by wildfowl.

Additionally, the European Commission has published a draft Regulation on the use of lead shot in wetlands, which, should it progress into law, will necessitate a move to alternatives to lead shot. The majority of Member States already have some restrictions on the use of lead shot over wetlands.

My Department is aware that any change to the regulations around the use of lead in gunshot could provide a range of difficulties to transition to new guns/gunshot for many gun owners in Ireland, including farmers and hunters, as many gun owners could have to make alternative arrangements, in many cases to purchase new guns.

My Department and the other relevant Government Departments are fully committed to ensuring that this matter is addressed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including farmer and hunters, and that all potential impacts are fully considered. This process of consultation is continuing. All proposals will be comprehensively evaluated, including extended lead-in times.