MINISTER FOR Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has criticised the National Parks and Wildlife Service for its “insensitive” approach to designating large parts of the Aran island of Inis Mór under the EU birds directive.
Irish-speaking farmers were informed of the designation in English, and there was no effort by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to adopt a partnership approach, Mr Ó Cuív has said.
"Writing to the farmers in English is an insult, and I myself only learned of this from Raidió na Gaeltachta – even though my department has an islands section," Mr Ó Cuív told The Irish Times.
“The Aran islanders have done more for conservation than most by their very way of living, and deserve better,” he said.
Mr Ó Cuív said he intends to raise the issue with his Cabinet colleague, Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
Letters informing landowners of plans to upgrade special protection areas (SPA) under the EU habitats directive were posted to Inis Mór just over a week ago.
A number of agricultural practices, including tree planting and reclamation of land, will require specific consent under the designation.
Up to 40 fishermen will also be affected, as use of nets will be banned in the affected area.
The proposed area comprises the cliffs below Dún Aonghusa and the rocky shore along the entire southern side of the island; part of the low cliffs and rocky shore at the west end; and the low cliffs and rocky shore at the east end.
It involves over 17km of coastline, and includes the two islands west of Inis Mór – Brannock Island and Rock Island, and Straw Island off the east end of Inis Mór. Seas extending 500 metres from the shoreline are also included in the proposed designation.
The NPWS says that the area is of special conservation interest for kittiwake, Arctic tern, little tern and guillemot.
Micheál Ó Goill, spokesman for the Aran island co-op, Comharchumann Forbartha Árann, said that advertisements with outline information had been placed in the regional press up to six weeks ago but it had been very difficult to get details on foot of this.
The co-op had invited the NPWS to a meeting to address the islanders, but the invitation had not been taken up, he said.
Letters then arrived to landowners only, but in English, over the past week.
The Department of Environment said it was aware of the issue, and was arranging to have correspondence and documentation translated into Irish.
Mr Ó Cuív said he was endeavouring to arrange a meeting between the co-op and the NPWS.
“To be fair to John Gormley and the Green Party, they are all in favour of consultation and partnership. This is anything but,” Mr Ó Cuív said.
