Cillian McLaughlin

But they're quite problematic for two reasons.

One, they can hybridise with our native red deer.

And two, they congregate in huge numbers, which means that diseases like TB can proliferate through the population very quickly.

So the other problem, of course, is in the large numbers.

They do overgraze and cause damage to trees and forestry, etc.,

Again, Clare, we don't know.

There's never been a census of deer in Ireland.

We don't know what we have.

We certainly have at least three species, possibly four species of deer, which are native red deer, of course, the Sika deer.

We have fallow deer that were introduced by the Normans.

Most people will be familiar with those from the Phoenix Park.

They're in the wider countryside as well.

And there is potentially a small deer which has been recorded in the wild in Ireland called a muntjac deer.

Particularly in Donegal, we've had a few sightings of them, believe it or not.

So, yeah, we just don't know the answer to the questions.

And until there are definite answers, I don't think culling should be discussed at all.

Because, you know, if culling is the answer...

then why are we being told the problem is worsening?

The last time we spoke, I think the year call at that point, I think it was around 2022 we had this conversation.

And I remember quoting 55,000 deer were killed that year.