Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the IFA, those representing hillside farmers and the Irish Wildlife Trust. I must declare a conflict of interest in that I am a farmer. I am proud of that; I am a hillside farmer also. In my view if one wants to talk about farming, one has to wear a pair of wellingtons. People might not like to hear that but it is a fact. We know what it is like to live in rural Ireland from day to day and the difficulties we encounter. We have the benefits also in terms of the beauty of the views, for example. Experts come in here and tell people in rural areas what is best for them. That would be like me going to a place like Tallaght, Rathmines or Castleknock and telling people what is best for them. I would not dare do that because I am not an expert on the issues concerning people there. However, I would listen to their opinion and I would appreciate it.

There was talk about not cutting roadside verges. What planet are those people on? They are definitely not on this planet anyway in terms of the reality of what is happening on the ground.