Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

August has the lowest probability of impact on birds. It is the end of the growing season.

We have done the review. As I stated, this is a highly regulated managed two-year pilot period, the impact of which will be measured. Our experts will overview it. In August 2018, because of the snow, hedges will not have been cut for seven months. We need to bear that in mind as well. If one thinks about it, birds' nests will not be supported by this current year's growth because the nests are built in the spring when the current year's growth has not occurred.