Wildlife Protection
Seanad Éireann — 2022-02-24
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Lynn Boylan (SF), Agricultural Panel

I will proceed.
However, as I said, the freedom of information request was heavily redacted. We know that the facts are that in 2019, an ecologist report was produced on the works that were requested to be done on Emo Court. The report stated that the works could not go ahead because the mitigation could not ensure the safety of the bat roost. Despite that report, the OPW carried on with the works. I have to hand a photograph that was taken by ecologists in November 2019, which clearly shows that there were bats present and that works were taking place where the bats were roosting. In January 2020, the National Parks and Wildlife Service sent a ranger to investigate what was going on in the basement of Emo Court. The ranger stated that the only evidence of bats found was bat droppings that had been swept up and a dead bat. We know that the National Parks and Wildlife Service produced a report. Will the report into the findings of what took place in the basement of Emo Court, along with the recommendations, be released?
Will the Minister of State confirm that a prosecution was not recommended in this case arising from what took place in Emo Court?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2022-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:11+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-02-24