HC Deb 10 May 1995 vol 259 c521W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those sites which(a) have been designated or (b) meet the criteria for designation as (i) special protection areas under the European Community directive on the conservation of wild birds or (ii) Ramsar sites under the convention on wetlands of international importance. [22367]

Mr. Moss

In Northern Ireland two sites at Swan island and Sheep island have so far been designated as special protection areas under EC directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. A further 11 sites have been identified as possible meeting the criteria for designation. These are:

  • Belfast Lough
  • Carlingford Lough
  • Dundrum Bay
  • Larne Lough
  • Lough Foyle
  • Lough Neagh and Lough Beg
  • Outer Ards Peninsula
  • Rathlin Island Cliffs
  • Strangford Lough
  • Upper Lough Erne
  • Pettigoe Plateau

One site has already been designated under the Ramsar convention, Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. All the sites on the above lists also qualify for designation as Ramsar sites, with the exception of the Rathlin island cliffs.