Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

This issue has been going on for many years. I welcome the Minister's recent appointment of a number of rangers throughout the country. As a person from a tourism county I am aware that everybody wants to encourage walking. Many tourists find it difficult to understand that there are areas of the country in which they cannot walk. Regarding tomorrow's meeting, are we any closer to agreement between the Minister, the Department, farmers and everybody involved on allowing people to walk in the countryside? Has the Minister investigated the situation in Scotland where legislation has to be used? Although Scotland has had its own parliament only for the last few years, it has brought the farmers and property owners on board and resolved the problem. Has the Minister examined this? Will people be able to hill walk in this country next summer? Will the farmers be satisfied with what the Minister has agreed with them? Has he dealt with the insurance problems? In Scotland if work had to be done by the Department on land, the farmers were compensated. Where walkways have to be built on farmers' land, will the Minister examine offering compensation? Are we any nearer to allowing people to walk in the countryside than we were three years ago?

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