Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 December 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Heritage Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed)

11:00 am

Mr. Eddie Punch:

We have heard some talk but we have not seen any specific detail on it. It is true to say that land eligibility is the most contentious issue around all this. Deputies alluded to the fact that what happened to farmers in 2013 left a very significant scar. Farmers were told they must keep land in good agricultural condition and in good environmental condition. The two things are impossible to achieve because of the rigidity of the regulations around it.