Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am somewhat out of my depth here because I live in what RTÉ calls the capital, whatever it means by that. It is as if we were living on a Continent. From my background in the west, I concur with all my colleagues that this is an agricultural country. We forget it at our peril.

We had a group of visitors in from the Czech Republic, led by Deputy Collins. They had travelled from west Cork and Kerry to Dublin. I asked them what it was about Ireland that they noticed in particular. They said we are so good at farming and know how to do it. This is a real compliment to everybody here. I want to lay the subject of health and safety aside because I am sick of it. Everything is an excuse for a health and safety argument, which for older people now is a cause to make them fragile. The phrase "health and safety, health and safety, health and safety" is used but it teaches people how to be fragile. It sometimes obfuscates what is sheer common sense, which is effectively what is being talked about by the delegates, who know their business. They are trying to make a place for common sense. I do not know what we are talking about really when we talk of health and safety at the same time that the Pacific Ocean is full of plastic and considering that many of our rivers and streams are full of excrement. We make up phrases such as "health and safety".

I will make my third point and then move on to my observation. When I drive down a motorway or on another major road and look at the foliage on the left, I note it is sometimes hacked to death by what I would call the wrong instrument. Did anybody ever notice that? It is as if the branches have been cracked or broken off with brutality as opposed to being cut using what one would call the proper instrument. This is evident along many of our motorways and many other major roads. I do not know whose fault that is.

The Irish Wildlife Trust has a really good point to make. I am very much in favour of BirdWatch Ireland and the Irish Wildlife Trust. If there are 75 illegal fires and only one licence, one must ask what is going on. Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Dunne have a really good point in that if there were a central authority, it would be of benefit. One is delayed by ringing up various individuals and trying to get 15 different permissions. It is not that it is an excuse but people say they are not waiting for all the permissions and then proceed to burn. There is a kind of waywardness in certain behaviour. The delegates made a very good point because there is an impasse here. As an objective person from the capital, I realise there is massive impasse; one just wants to get it right. The farmers are completely right and want to do it right. As Mr. Dunne said, they just need some sort of central, strategic point. With that, the system can work.

The Heritage Bill has resulted in many trials and tribulations because everybody is trying to get it right. We have seen the destruction of islands all over the place. One should consider what is happening in Bali. That is just an observation because I do not come with any expertise. I bow to the better judgment of the delegates. I bow to the Irish Wildlife Trust because I know its heart is in the right place, as are the hearts of the farmers. The farmers are the keepers of the land and do it very well. I have had the privilege of spending considerable time around the country observing many areas of farming. A strategic point is needed, however. The system seems to be all over the place. It seems to be a case of every man for himself on the way to Mayo after Longford, especially if one is thinking of having tea in Tulsk.