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

In reply to Deputy Ó Cuív on the advice of the Attorney General, as I have said previously, the Roads Act states that one must do something with a particular branch hanging out over the road because it is dangerous and could cause an accident. On the other hand the wildlife legislation states that if this is during the closed period, the hedge cannot be touched. Section 8 merely addresses the exceptional circumstance wherever it is hazardous and in order to ensure road safety. I am not talking about cutting back the entire hedge. It is about certain exceptional circumstances and cutting back that part of the hedge on the roadside that is a safety issue.