Republic of Ireland Public consultation on the Open Seasons Order

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan, has launched a public consultation on the review of the Open Seasons Order for birds, which allows for the hunting of certain bird species.

Countryside Alliance Ireland would encourage members to get involved by completing an online survey by 5pm on Wednesday 3 May, 2023.

Below is the press release from the Minister.

• Public consultation will inform a review of the Open Seasons Order and the bird species listed on it
• The review will also consider the actions needed to improve the management of the Open Seasons Order, with a view to ensuring that hunting of these species is on a sustainable footing
• 14 of the 21 species on the Open Seasons Order were of national-level conservation concern in 2019, while 15 are either Amber or Red-listed by BirdWatch Ireland

14 of the 21 species covered under the Open Seasons Order were highlighted as being of national-level concern in 2019, on foot of a National Parks and Wildlife Services report to the EU on the status of bird species in Ireland, while 15 are listed as Amber or Red on Birdwatch Ireland’s Birds of Conservation Concern Ireland (BOCCI) list.

The review aims to bring forward proposals to ensure that the hunting of these species is sustainable, and in line with Ireland’s obligations to safeguard threatened bird species and the “principles of wise use” under the EU Birds Directive. It also seeks to gather views on the steps that could be put in place, for example, with respect to improvements in data collection and the management of the Order to protect vulnerable bird species.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, commented:

“Today’s public consultation follows from a commitment I made to have dialogue with stakeholders as part of the review on the Open Season Orders.

“While government-led efforts and initiatives to protect birds have intensified and are significant, so too is the challenge of reversing declines in threatened bird species, and other habitats and species. Despite more than 30 years of effort to protect and conserve biodiversity under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, the latest assessments under these Directives show declining trends in the conservation status of some of our most threatened species. We must make every effort to protect our birds and, in line with our EU counterparts, it is appropriate that we consider the role of hunting activities in this context.

“While government-led efforts and initiatives to protect birds have intensified and are significant, so too is the challenge of reversing declines in threatened bird species, and other habitats and species. Despite more than 30 years of effort to protect and conserve biodiversity under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, the latest assessments under these Directives show declining trends in the conservation status of some of our most threatened species. We must make every effort to protect our birds and, in line with our EU counterparts, it is appropriate that we consider the role of hunting activities in this context.