Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has said that landowners must pay to cut roadside hedges. I disagree with her view on that aspect, as I have done with many other people before now. Let us discuss what happens if a landowner tries to do anything outside his ditch but on the side of the road. He is not even allowed to erect a small sign that directs people to his business, property or whatever because the land outside his property is deemed to be council property. I disagree with the Minister and strongly believe that local authorities should cut roadside hedges. If anyone dares to work outside of their ditch on the side of a public road, he or she will be brought to task very quickly by the local authority. However, at the same time the local authority will not cut the hedge that is offending people who use the road.