Concerns have been raised that an ambitious plan to reintroduce the sea eagle to Ireland could be stalled by a campaign by local farmers to block the proposals.
The concerns have led to the establishment of a new support group in Killarney, Co Kerry, to counteract what they claim is incorrect information about the project to reintroduce the bird, called the White-tailed Eagle.
The group, which includes local business and tourism interests, said it was concerned that a decision could be made to stall the project because of fears that it could become an electoral issue because of opposition by farmers group the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).
The sea eagle, one of the largest birds of prey in the world, has been extinct in Ireland for more than 100 years.
Now the White-tailed Eagle Support Group, including tourism and community groups which want to see the majestic bird return to the skies, has alleged that claims by the IFA that the eagles could take hundreds of lambs a year and even attack people were incorrect.
Yesterday the Department of the Environment confirmed that it would hold talks with the IFA in Kerry on the project.
A spokesman for the department said that the timetable for the reintroduction of the birds had not been changed at this stage, but that the department wanted to engage in full discussions with the farmer group before the project proceeds.
He rejected suggestions that the possibility of a delay was due to electoral issues, but said the department believed there needed to be a "full buy-in" of all groups before the project goes ahead. The IFA has been holding public meetings in the south Kerry area close to the Killarney National Park, where 15 chicks are to be introduced later this year.
The project, which will last for five years, is being supported by the Department of the Environment, in connection with the Golden Eagle Trust.
Flor McCarthy, a former chairman of the IFA in Kerry said there were concerns that the sea eagles posed a serious threat to livestock, and quoted figures from a report suggesting that pairs of eagles could be responsible for killing more than 30 lambs a year.
He also cited attacks on humans by eagles in other parts of the world, including a recent incident in Australia involving a paraglider.
"There is not only concern among farmers," he said.
The concerns were dismissed yesterday by chairman of the new support group, Jerry O'Grady.
"The threat to lambs is minuscule," he said, quoting figures from the Scottish Island of Mull, where the eagle was reintroduced successfully in recent years.
He said that of the 2,600 lambs that died in the first six months of last year, just 33 showed signs of having been scavenged by eagles.