Ministers Noonan and Hackett meet with BirdWatch Ireland

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett TDm, and officials from the NPWS / Department of Housing, Local Government Heritage and Heritage had a very constructive meeting this afternoon with BirdWatch Ireland to discuss the results of their Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BOCCI) report. The BOCCI report was very much informed by data commissioned, collected, funded or supported by NPWS and so many of its findings were similar to those of NPWS' own report on the status of birds protected by the Birds Directive in Ireland, prepared in 2019.

There will be further discussions with BirdWatch Ireland on what needs to be done to reverse the declines we are seeing in our farmland, marine and breeding wader populations, with a particular focus on those species for which declines are occurring because of pressures and threats here in Ireland, rather than elsewhere in Europe or internationally. With respect to the progress on the recommendations of the Curlew Taskforce, the Department is reviewing this at the moment with a view to accelerating its implementation, where possible.

Minister Noonan said:

“I was pleased to formally receive the fourth Birds of Conservation Concern Ireland report from Birdwatch Ireland and meet with their scientific team today, along with my colleague in the Department for Agriculture, Minister Pippa Hackett. The findings of this report are deeply sobering and broadly echoed by the scientific work done by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in my own Department, and they highlight the importance of taking strategic and collaborative action to address declines. I’ve often spoken of the importance of a strong and robust civil society and NGO community, and I’d like to thank Birdwatch Ireland for all they do across research, advocacy and communication to support all of us to deliver change.”

Ends