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The Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht has rowed back on a decision to ban wood pigeon shooting, in order for farmers to protect crops, during the summer months.
The Minister for Culture Josepha Madigan said on Thursday that the “status quo is being reinstated for the wood pigeon” for June, July and August.
“Scientific advice was given to me by my officials who propose removing the wood pigeon, as they suggested there is limited evidence to suggest that they do, in fact, cause serious damage to crops over the summer.
"However, serious concerns have been raised by deputies and other stakeholders with me about the exclusion of the wood pigeon because of damage to crop yields and some of the other reasons mentioned.
“That includes damage to crops that make it difficult to harvest. There is also contamination which makes it particularly difficult for tillage farmers. As a result, the status quo is being reinstated for the wood pigeon this year.
“Lethal means will be permitted by land owners in June, July and August to prevent crop damage,” she said.
The Department had previously decided to rule out the derogation for the summer months.
Permission
The National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) said the reversal of the changes to the longstanding derogation on pigeon shooting gives back permission to farmers to protect their crops from pigeon damage.
“Common sense has won the day. The NARGC enjoys a close relationship with Irish farmers and their representative organisations.
“This came to the fore in the campaign to restore crop protection in the summer months of June, July and August,” it said on Thursday night.
Pest
The IFA had made a submission to the Department of Culture this week on the issue and called for the decision not to grant the derogation to be reviewed and reversed.
“It is estimated that there are 2.8m individual wood pigeons distributed throughout Ireland.
“They have a wide and varied diet, cereal grains, clover, vegetables, rape seeds, peas, etc. It has very few natural predators, mainly the peregrine and sparrow hawk. The wood pigeon is the most serious avian agricultural pest,” it said.
The IFA said the decision to remove the months of June, July and August from the derogation time frame for the control of wood pigeon will have a “serious effect” on the economic viability of the tillage and field vegetable sectors.
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