Mr. Gerry Gunning:

I would like to comment. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, came forward with this proposal which came from the Government and her Department, and we support it. We expect that when a proposal is made, it is delivered. I hope that answers the Senator's question.

We have to consider the maximisation of the use of the land in terms of roadside hedges. There are major problems in the encroachment of vegetation onto land and there are issues with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine vis-à-visthe eligibility of the land which Mr. Dunne referred to in the context of hill areas. Most committee members are from rural areas. The amount of hedges cut in any one year is very small. Over a ten-year period, less than 0.5% of hedges would be cut in any one year, including roadside hedges.

The amount of damage that would be done to the environment would be insignificant because the environment is evolving anyway. We see great changes in the environment, for example, with climate change. The Minister has proposed this change and we support it. We acknowledge the support of Deputies and Senators on the Bill because farmers see it as a good, practical step to make management of their land and hedges much better.