Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Some of my colleagues are probably moreau faitwith this situation as it is happening in their area more than my own. I know we discussed it in January. I am still grappling and coming to terms with the fact that, on appeal, the administrative penalty was dropped but the witnesses are still adamant that the land area in question does not qualify for any payment for the entire year. We are all aware that much of this burning happened through no fault of the farmer. It was not malicious. It was not that they were burning out of season. It was maliciously started in many cases and they had no control over it. If land is burned in April, that land will be grazing again in June. It seems very harsh, especially where farmers are victims of a crime where somebody else started the fire. They are losing the payment on that area of land for the entire year when it would return to grass for the greater part of the year that is left.

This is a major loss to farmers, and as I say, the elephant in the room is the fact that this was not something malicious that they did. It was totally out of their control. The fire was started by somebody else.