Public Consultation on Amending the Open Seasons Order for Birds

Under the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), Ireland has obligations to ensure that hunting of bird species included on its Annex II complies with “principles of wise use”. Following recently reported declines in populations at the EU level, an EU Taskforce has been established to reverse the decline in bird species, and to review the sustainability of their hunting in the Member States. In Ireland, a number of these Annex II species are listed on the Open Seasons Order and so may be hunted at certain times of the year (see list provided). Ireland is conducting a review of the Order, including the Annex II bird species included on it, with a view to ensuring that hunting of these species is on a sustainable footing.

We wish to hear your views on actions that may be taken to ensure the sustainability of hunting of these species.

Please complete the online questionnaire. Closing date is 17:00 on 3rd May 2023.

The Open Seasons Order (Birds), the species listed upon it, and the dates of the various Open Seasons

Ireland’s most recent report on the status and trends of birds protected under the Birds Directive, NPWS Article 12 Report, 2019

All responses received will be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information, Access to Environmental Information and Data Protection legislation. The responses to the questionnaires will be analysed, presented in a report and will inform recommendations to the Minister.

Respondents are advised that the survey responses are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2014, and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014, and Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in your responses and it will be presumed that all information contained in your submission is releasable under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Please note that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage may publish a summary of the survey results and may also publish anonymised data from the responses received.

A privacy statement relating to any personal data that may be provided is available for download under the Documents heading above.

Email: OSObirdsreview@npws.gov.ie

The public consultation yielded 2,559 survey responses to the online questionnaire. Three submissions were received by the NPWS directly. The survey results and submissions were reviewed by an external expert who developed recommendations for consideration by the Minister in relation to species and periods for these species to be listed on the Open Seasons Order. This report is published below, together with responses received.