S.I. No. 46/1931 - Wild Birds Protection Act, 1930.

STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS. 1931. No. 46.

WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT, 1930.

Order by the Minister for Justice.

WHEREAS it is enacted by sub-section (3) of section 2 of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1930 (No. 16 of 1930), that the Minister for Justice may by order on the application of the council of a county or a county borough prohibit for special reasons stated in such application the killing or taking in such county or county borough or any particular parts or part thereof of all wild birds or any particular kinds or kind of wild bird during any particular period or periods (other than and in addition to the close time) of every year:

AND WHEREAS the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin acting by the City Council and exercising by virtue of section 30 of the Local Government (Dublin) Act, 1930 (No. 27 of 1930) the powers conferred by the hereinbefore recited enactment on the councils of county boroughs, have applied to the Minister for Justice for an order prohibiting the killing or taking in the North Bull Island, Dollymount, in the County Borough of Dublin of all wild birds for the special reasons stated in such application and set out in the Schedule hereto:

NOW I, JAMES FITZGERALD-KENNEY, Minister for Justice, in exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-section (3) of section 2 of the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1930 (No. 16 of 1930), and of every and any other pewer me in this behalf enabling do hereby, for the special reasons set out in the Schedule hereto, order as follows:—

1. This Order may be cited for all purposes as the Wild Birds (North Bull Island) Order, 1931.

2. The Interpretation Act, 1923 (No. 46 of 1923), applies to the interpretation of this Order in like manner as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of the Oireachtas.

3. No person shall kill or take in the North Bull Island, Dollymount, in the County Borough of Dublin, any wild bird during ally period (other than and in addition to the close time) of any year.

Given under my Seal of Office this 16th day of July, 1931.

(Signed) JAMES FITZGERALD-KENNEY,

Minister for Justice.

(Signed) M. KINNANE.

SCHEDULE.

1. The North Bull is very rich in bird-life. Over a hundred different species of birds visit the island, many of them rare and beautiful birds. If these were not molested they might spread to the rest of the country. For example, the short-eared owl, a most useful bird for killing rats and mice, and absolutely harmless, comes every year and is regularly shot.

2. Our principal reason is the educational value for the City of Dublin in having a sanctuary so near at hand, where teachers could take their classes for Nature Study. It is a well-known fact that birds quickly recognise that a place is a sanctuary, lose their fear of man and allow of study at close quarters. From experience in other countries the civilising effect of such Nature Study is very marked. It gives young people a wholesome interest in outdoor life. The spirit of destruction so inherent in the young is replaced by a love of nature. The institution of such open-air Nature Study classes would, we have reason to believe, be eagerly welcomed by the parents of many of the children now attending Dublin schools.

3. Ireland is practically the only country at the present day without a bird sanctuary. There are hundreds of them in England, some in Scotland, many in Germany, Austria and Hungary, America has its National Parks, and Japan its Bird Reservations.