Mr. Padraic Joyce:

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell asked a very valid question, namely, why the hedges are hacked to death. I can well understand why. What happens is that the period of cutting is so short and the autumns have been so wet that farmers have not been able to do hedge cutting in two to four years. When the hedge cutter is used after that period, it is not really suitable. The branches grow so strong that the flail is not that suitable. One does not end up with the hedge one is looking for. As with mowing the lawn, one likes to do it every so often and do a good job. Farmers genuinely like to have their hedges properly cut. One must remember it is done at a cost to them, but they are still willing to pay.