A Fianna Fail MEP has called on the Government to ratify a wildlife convention. Mr Niall Andrews says it has been signed by all EU member states except Ireland.
He said a recent European Parliament report on the protection of endangered species noted that Ireland had not ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
"Across the globe many species face the threat of impending extinction through the destruction of irreplaceable ecosystems," he said.
"This threat is further heightened by the illegal trade in endangered species which is now a multi million pound criminal business. This trade is on the increase and has strong links with organised crime.