‘Deer are vermin and they must be treated so’ - chair

The Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council has blamed failed deer farmers, who released their stock into the wild once the business became “unprofitable”, for both the increasing number of herds and the problems arising for the farming community at large.

It comes as the council again runs the risk of potentially locking horns with animal rights activists after reiterating a hardened stance towards regulating the country’s burgeoning deer population.
“People went into raise deer and let them out when they became unprofitable,” slammed newly elected Cathaoirleach Shane P O’Reilly. “Deer are vermin, and they must be treated so.”
He further expressed disgruntlement at the “prescribed species” list in Ireland, taking aim at the pine marten, once considered endangered on this island. He claimed the cat-sized carnivore is “ruining the poultry industry” in this region, and concerning badgers too, stated: 
“Farmers lose their entire livelihood to TB. The effect that has on landowners and farmers is unquantifiable.”
His comments came on foot of a motion tabled before the recent monthly meeting of elected members by Fianna Fáil’s Sean Smith. Cllr Smith had also tabled the same motion almost three years ago. He expressed growing frustration amongst farmers at the rising number of deer causing damage to crops, farm infrastructure, issues concerning bio-security, and the threat to the health and safety of motorists.
He stated that the deer herd was growing and “will soon get completely out of hand”. 
He knew of one instance where a local mother and child had a “near miss” when a deer collided with their car, and called on the Department of Agriculture to introduce wider control.
Peter McVitty (FG) said that his herd was “wiped-out” last Spring by TB. 
“Something had to be done,” he said of deer. “No fence will stop these.” 
TP O’Reilly (FG) and John Paul Feely (FF) also supported the motion, but suggested that he “wouldn’t like that anyone interested in animal rights would misinterpret” their comments.