Call for farmer eagle compensation (Ireland0

[Chris Monk]

20 April 2007

Call for farmer eagle compensation

http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=business-qqqm=business-qqqa=business-qqqid=30852-qqqx=1.asp

IFA Hill Farming Committee chairman Neilie O’Leary has called on Environment Minister Dick Roche to draw up a compensation scheme for farmers suffering losses as a result of the introduction of the white-tailed sea eagle in South Kerry.

Mr O’Leary said the introduction of the sea eagle is being portrayed as a flagship environmental project by the Government without any discussion on the consequences that it will have on the livelihood of farmers.

He claimed the National Park and Wildlife service is playing down the damaging effect the eagle will have on the sheep population. However, experience from Scotland where it was introduced on the Isle of Mull has proven otherwise.

[Martin Thomas]

The birds on Mull have now become a very valuable asset to the island bringing in much needed revenue from eco-tourism. There has been a change in the perception of the presence of the eagles by many (including farmers) especially as sheep farming there is low productivity, difficult business to make money from. The wiser locals are now exploiting their avian assets and providing protection for the birds. A win-win situation as far as I can see.

Perhaps lessons learned could be used elsewhere with other controversial conflicts?

[Farnboro John]

The birds on Mull have now become a very valuable asset to the island bringing in much needed revenue from eco-tourism. There has been a change in the perception of the presence of the eagles by many (including farmers) especially as sheep farming there is low productivity, difficult business to make money from. The wiser locals are now exploiting their avian assets and providing protection for the birds. A win-win situation as far as I can see.

Perhaps lessons learned could be used elsewhere with other controversial conflicts?


The problem as usual is with those determined not to learn any lessons at all. This is particularly difficult with the Irish, a nation peculiarly concerned to portray themselves down the ages as put upon. Even their myths and legends, which I have been studying recently, have at their heart this conception that everything bad is the world picking on them. Combine that with typical farmer invincible ignorance and greed and the consequences are likely to be illegal persecution (that is clearly the next threat: if you won't compensate us we'll protect our own interests...) regardless of the actual interests of either birds or humans.

John

[pperegrine]

The problem as usual is with those determined not to learn any lessons at all. This is particularly difficult with the Irish, a nation peculiarly concerned to portray themselves down the ages as put upon. Even their myths and legends, which I have been studying recently, have at their heart this conception that everything bad is the world picking on them. Combine that with typical farmer invincible ignorance and greed and the consequences are likely to be illegal persecution (that is clearly the next threat: if you won't compensate us we'll protect our own interests...) regardless of the actual interests of either birds or humans.

John


Farnboro John

As an Irishman, I unfortunatley agree with you. Whilst that vast majority of Ireland supports this venture, there are farmers , especially in Kerry, who oppose it.

These guys have been isolated from the rest of the world for centuries. Their only livelihoods has been farming. Kerrymen are extremely shrewd, but surprisingly it has escaped them the huge financial benefits of the Eagles. They need look no further than the island of Mull in Scotland. Millions upon millions of european money pours into their economy because directly from the eagle tourism.

Kerry,Dingle,Cloghane,Kells, West Cork farmers need to pull their socks up and embrace the bonanza in front of them.