Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To follow up on Mr. Gunning's final remark, there is a problem in many local authorities. They have to talk to the likes of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, and are often refused at other times of the year. In some counties there is a decision taken not to cut because it is too bureaucratic and farmers have been refused previously. For example, in Galway the local authority would not cut a hedge this year.

I thank the delegates for their presentations and the Chairman for allowing me to contribute. Do all of the delegates agree that there is a managed landscape? Do they agree that farmers in rural Ireland are the protectors of the environment when no one else is around?

Regarding controlled burning, I will throw out an idea that came to me. In certain areas, for example, commonages on mountains, it is undoubtedly difficult to make a living. Should there be rural social scheme, RSS, groups or the like in certain areas or counties to help in controlled burning using a meitheal? Could people involved in such groups be trained to help farmers? It would also provide employment in various areas and could be done on a co-op basis.

Everyone needs to understand the role of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in this issue and it might be a good idea for the committee to contact that Department. An inspector comes to an area which is a managed landscape. If he or she finds a certain percentage of heather that is too long or that there is vegetation somewhere, the entire grant is removed. Do the farming organisations agree that this or another committee has to sort out that scenario?

People are jumping to conclusions on another matter. From everything I have heard, it is almost being suggested farmers are responsible for the burning. First things first - no one has been convicted. People are innocent until found guilty. Does Mr. Fogarty believe it was wise to have reported to the European Union that there had been 97 wildfires, 40% of which had been in designated areas? For the record, 80% of the land west of Lough Corrib is in designated areas, as in 35% of County Mayo. Unfortunately, most of the hilly regions where there have been fires are in designated areas, in which farmers are prevented from working. As was pointed out correctly, they cannot even put cattle or sheep on land without first obtaining clearance.

According to the Irish Wildlife Trust's complaint, hen harriers had been lost to wildfires. Mr. Fogarty also mentioned the curlew. I note that he is from Castleknock. Speaking as one of the committee members from rural Ireland, most of the hen harriers were drowned, which was unfortunate. When some so-called environmentalists decided that it would be better to let minks loose, they killed curlews. Rather than being visitor to rural Ireland on a Saturday and a Sunday and thinking we know it all, we should appreciate what farmers are doing. Working with them is the way forward. Reporting and trying to ensure their grants will be removed is not. No one engaged in the activity in question would be welcome in rural Ireland. For hundreds of years farmers have protected the landscape. It is not a great idea for a visitor on a Saturday and a Sunday to try to trump them and tell them what to do.