Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has urged the Government to establish a dedicated wildlife crime unit within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on biodiversity, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cA report published today by the Journal Investigates shines disturbing new light on the extent of Ireland\u2019s underground wildlife trade. Detailing unspeakable acts of cruelty, it highlights how foxes, hares and rabbits are being snared and sold as live bait by those involved in illegal hunting networks.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven badgers \u2013 an endangered species protected under the Wildlife Act \u2013 are being sold on the black market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIncredibly, many of those caught and prosecuted are receiving sentences under the Probation Act and escaping without a criminal conviction.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2020, Minister Malcolm Noonan announced the establishment of a wildlife crime unit within the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). However, plans for a dedicated unit did not proceed and wildlife crime was placed under a new Wildlife Enforcement and Nature Protection Directorate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this has resulted in some improvements in terms of resources, I do not believe that it should just fall on rangers within the NPWS to deal with wildlife crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cIreland needs to look to the UK model, where wildlife crime is dealt with within the police force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose involved in the despicable wildlife trade\u00a0are serious criminals and need to be treated as such.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am therefore renewing my previous calls for a properly resourced wildlife crime unit to be established within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na.\u201d<\/p>\n
October 3, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has urged the Government to establish a dedicated wildlife crime unit within An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on biodiversity, said: \u201cA report published today by the Journal Investigates shines disturbing new light on the extent of Ireland\u2019s underground wildlife trade. Detailing unspeakable acts of cruelty, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[517,268,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biodiversity","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n