Group to oversee protection of hen harrier

An inter-departmental steering group has been convened by Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht Minister Heather Humphreys to consider the implication of the hen harrier special protection area designations in relation to agricultural use, forestry and wind-farm development.

Ms Hunphreys told TD Brendan Griffin in a written reply to a Dáil question that this group has been tasked with drawing up a threat response plan for the hen harrier and will deal with various issues of concern to landowners.

The departments represented on the group have been asked to nominate relevant stakeholders for inclusion on the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan Consultative Committee.