Dear Minister O’Brien,

Under EU and Irish law it is illegal to kill or injure a seal without a licence. The Wildlife Act gives specific protection to seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Under the Act, it is an offence to hunt, injure or wilfully interfere with or destroy the breeding place of a protected species.

Since your appointment as Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in June 2020 (3 months ago), you have passed the legislation for a pilot scheme to be introduced, where fishermen can shoot and kill seals who interfere with their fish stocks. There is also mention of culling seals.

You have received applications for licenses from people who want to cull marine mammals, including three applications which suggested using high-powered rifles.

They are blaming seals for not having enough fish.

The key problem is overfishing, not seals. 

Allowing this pilot scheme to be passed will permit the use of rifles in Irish waters to kill marine life. 

There are less than 4,000 seals in Irish waters. Charities like Seal Sanctuary Ireland have been trying to protect the species for years. 

There has also been no account for how this scheme will be policed - this could be a danger to us all. As a scuba-diver (Kish SAC), I'm personally nervous this will create a danger to humans as well as marine life.

Your passing of this pilot scheme is against EU and Irish law, it is also against our progression to protect marine life and our ecosystem. It is an inhumane and short-term solution for a bigger problem.

I urge you, please do not proceed with the passing of this legislation, to allow this pilot scheme.