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Senator Dearey welcomes new measures to protect wildlife from jet skies and quad bikes
Green Party Senator Mark Dearey has welcomed new regulations to control recreational activities in sensitive nature areas like along the River Boyle, in the Baltray Boyne estuary area and on Bettystown and Laytown sand dunes.
Environment Minister John Gormley is introducing these regulations to stem serious damage and disturbance to nature sites such as nesting grounds and sand dunes by quad biking or jet skies.
Senator Dearey said, "This is an important measure to protect our sensitive nature areas. We have some wonderful areas that enjoy special protection throughout County Louth and Meath but until now we were relying on random bye laws to stop the recreational use of jet skis on rivers such as the Boyne which can swamp nests and kill wildlife on rivers and at sea and quads which can do serious damage to sand dunes, upland areas and bogs"
The regulations, required under the European Communities Acts, allow for the restriction or prohibition of particular recreational activities in specified places where the nature sites or species requires. Public notice will be given of restrictions.
The Regulations are not aimed at agricultural or other occupational use of quads or other off-road vehicles or their use by the security or emergency services. Landowners will have the right to object to, or seek review of, a Ministerial direction affecting their land, and to seek exemption from the general application of a direction that affects their land where it can be satisfied that the scale and nature of the recreational activity will not damage a European nature site or pose a threat to protected species.