The minister for housing has been forced to clarify after a response to a parliamentary question, written in his name, said the Government was “examining the potential for a pilot scheme” which would see seals shot with high-powered rifles from boats. The story, which ran in Monday’s Irish Examiner, quoted Darragh O’Brien’s response to Independent TD Michael Healy Rae-that the scheme would “determine its efficacy in protecting fishermen’s catches”. “We listen intensely to all concerns and I’m sure the department have to take concerns on board of everyone including fishermen. If a pilot was proposed (for shooting seals) it wouldn’t be sanctioned or his (O’Brien’s) thinking would be something that would involve shooting. “That would never have got sign off and such a pilot scheme never got to his desk.

Source: Irish Examiner September 28, 2020 15:56 UTC