Lead Campaign Information and Links
All Lead in Shooting and Fishing
Initial Restriction Proposal below published 3.2.21
A Firearms industry analysis of what the lead ban will cost , Please Click;
Face Survey for EU Firearms owners ( All lead in use proposed Restriction)
Face have organized an EU wide survey for Firearms owners to respond to, to fully access the implications of this proposal.
It is very important we complete this survey, because this clearly outlines the Socio / economic cost of these unnecessary over the top proposals.
Update 19.1.21 - 439 Irish persons have completed this survey, even though over 8,000 people viewed it on Facebook (Finland 5.5M population - 2,521 surveys completed ) We are ahead of most EU Countries, some of which are very poor). We need to bring this up to 1,000 +.
Please complete it if you have not done so, and spread the word amongst your friends.
26.3.21 - Ireland is still only at 471 surveys.
Survey Closes 2.4.21
Please complete this survey by clicking the attached Link https://www.face.eu/2020/12/hunters-survey-on-lead/
Lead Shot Over Wetland Restriction
Final Restriction, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0057&from=EN
It has Passed all Political / bureaucratic hurdles now - Will become law in all member states in February 2023, or 2024 if a full statewide lead shot ban is imposed by the member state. ( Option for MS's with more than 20% wetlands)
(There may be Court challenges to it, which may or may not stop it)
Vote By Mep's
(25.11.20)
Lead Vote – The way your Mep’s voted.
Our 13 Mep’s in the main let us down, with only 2 voting for it.
5 FG - Sean Kelly (South)
Deirdre Clune (South)
Maria Walsh ( Midlands- North)
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin) All voted against the motion / us.
( Obviously an FG decision to vote against it, and contrary to most of their Euro party, EPP )
Colm Markey ( Mairead McGuinness replacement did not vote )
Recently got his wings - may not have a vote
2 FF - Billy Kelliher (South) Voted for it - and was very supportive - Excellent.
Barry Andrews (Dublin) Voted against it.
2 GP - Ciaran Cuffe (Dublin)
Grace O Sullivan (South) Both Voted against it
Ind - Mick Wallace (South)
Clare Daly (Dublin)
Luke Ming Flanagan (Midlands North) All Voted against it
SF - Chris McManus ( Midlands North) Voted for it
Obviously most of our Mep’s have no interest in ensuring sensible good laws from the EU. They have accepted a bad proposal and allowed the European Commission to do as they pleased.
While there is a 2nd vote tonight, it is unlikely to change, much.
Very disappointing.
Much reflection needed – those Mep’s have not represented Ireland, particularly rural Ireland.
We Thank Billy and Chris for their Support.
Click Link for the Actual Voting Record Vote to reject the Poor proposal
The Motion was rejected as Follows : Poll : 693
For : 292 (42%)
Against : 362
Abstain : 39
50% was required - Not achieved.
Face Europe Article on the Problems with the proposed restriction
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The REACH Committee of the European Commission (EC), passed this proposal 'Restricting the use of lead shot over wetlands'. on the 4th attempt on the 3.9.20.
EC restriction (TEXT) passed by the Reach Committee 3.9.20
The Reach Committee is made up of a civil Servant from each of the Member States (27), Chaired by the Director of the Environment (ENVI) Department of the EC.
We are following up on aspect of the way this committee conducted its business.
The Irish Government Flagged to the EC their reservations and objection, and Voted against this proposal on three occasions. THe NARGC and the IFA had extensively liaised with them on this issue over the last 2 years. However on the 3.9.20 they abruptly changed their position, and we only became aware of the change of position after the vote.
Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan ( now in Charge of NPWS) was instrumental in this change.
We have taken this up with him on the 8.9.20, and we will pursue it further.
It now goes to the ENVI Committee, and the European Parliament for what they call three Months of scrutiny.
Even though this is defective, dangerous and un enforceable proposed legislation, it will be difficult to get it changed at European level. The EU's claim that they produce 'better regulation' is well and truly rubbished by this proposal
This has got huge traction across Eupope and hopefully common sense will eventually prevail. We will keep plugging.
There is also the possibility of a legal challenge, as this breaches many EU fundamental principles.
We have established beyond doubt that Lead Lead is not causing any problem to wildlife.
The 3 Surveys that have be done in Ireland: ( Checking Waterbirds Gizzard's for the presence of Lead Shot)
(1) 1990 - NARGC Survey (Dr Douglas Butler) 913 Gizzards, 23 had ingested Lead Shot = 2.52% Prevalence.
(2) 2019 - NARGC Survey, 1,194 Gizzards, 21 had ingested Lead Shot = 1.75% Prevalence
(3) 2020 - NARGC Survey, 976 Gizzards, 2 had ingested Lead Shot = 0.2% Prevalence.
Survey No1 was conducted by Dr. Douglas Butler, and published in the Naturalists Journal in 1990. Survey 2, 3, was facilitated by the NARGC, with an Independent Veterinary Laboratory doing the dissection and analysis, and reporting their findings.
All three survey clearly indicate this is not an issue in Ireland, and is in sharp contrast to the erroneous guesstimates in the ECHA / EC reports.
We are doing a further Survey in 2020 / 2021 season. Please keep your Duck Gizzards, Freeze them, label - date- species location, and we will arrange collection by your RGC later.
Dan Curley, Chairman NARGC
NARGC Submission on the SEAC Opinion 21.05.2018
NARGC report to Irish Government Officials - 15.4.2019
Inferiority of Steel Shot
Steel Shot V Lead Shot - Test
Video of the Stupidity of the EU Lead Shot Proposal
It illustrates that the European Commission is out of touch with reality.