The Green Party has asked Leinster House authorities to address the issue of birds and other animals becoming trapped in an enclosed courtyard in the complex.
A letter on behalf of the Greens' parliamentary party cites the case of 'Melania the Squirrel' as well as a baby magpie that died after becoming trapped. The courtyard, which has a water feature and flora, is based in the LH2000 annex and is surrounded by the walls and windows of offices used by politicians and other staff. Its enclosed nature has resulted in a "large number of birds and other animals becoming trapped and unable to escape", according to the Green Party's letter, which came before the Oireachtas Commission on Monday.
The letter refers to 'Melania the Squirrel' who became trapped in the courtyard for a number of weeks in the last Dáil before escaping when the building was mostly empty by climbing through an open window in the offices of Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin, running down the corridor and climbing out of another office window.
However, the letter notes that more recently a baby magpie "who seemed unable to fly due to a problem with one of its wings" died of starvation as it tried to shelter from rain beneath the window of Ms Martin's office.
While some trapped birds have been rescued, the letter states: "We have been told by Facilities that they cannot interfere with other species and that they 'must let nature take its course'.
"This would have been the case with Melania had she not escaped through her own resourcefulness."
The letter notes that while "nature undoubtedly involves death, starvation and all of the inherent cruelties that come with its own course", the LH2000 courtyard is not a natural setting. "Many animals don't realise that until they have found their way in, with no way out," it adds.
The party has requested that the Ceann Comhairle and the commission examine solutions, including a "formalised way" for animals to travel through a corridor to get to a courtyard behind the National Gallery, putting a net over the courtyard (although it adds this may lead to birds becoming stuck), or linking with an animal welfare/rescue charity.
