Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to be able to speak about this Bill. Its principal purpose is to amend the Heritage Act 1995 on foot of the report of the critical review of the Heritage Council and to provide for the regulation of the cutting or burning of vegetation. I will confine my remarks mainly to Part 3 amendments to the Wildlife Acts. In section 7, which concerns the current provisions in the Wildlife Acts, section 40 referred to prohibits the cutting, curbing, burning or destruction of vegetation with certain strict exemptions from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. The provisions of section 7 give the Minister power, by regulation, to permit the burning of vegetation in March, a month normally closed to burning, and during such periods as may be specified by the Minister. The regulations may also set out conditions or restrictions to protect particular habitats in areas where such burning is permitted. These powers will expire after a two-year pilot period, although there is provision for continuation by way of resolution by each House of the Oireachtas for periods not to exceed three years. I have a problem with that. Climactic conditions are changing regularly. My colleagues to my left may not agree with me on climate change, but we are being told about it every day of the week. We can see a huge change in climactic conditions, whether it has anything to do with climate change or not.

We have a nonsense rule which confines slurry spreading to certain months of the year. There should be no such thing. People should be able to spread slurry when they are able to and when it provides the best advantage for the land. This can stop run-off and help with our animal husbandry and fish in our rivers. Some 99% of farmers are good custodians of the land and our wildlife, as are the gun clubs and the fishing clubs, including the Ardfinnan, Ballybacon, Grange and Newcastle gun club, whose members have gone up the hills and restocked them with gorse. They do tremendous work, but they need to be able to burn when the land is dry. They cannot burn when it is wet. It is like cutting turf in that it cannot be cut on a wet day. Common sense must prevail here. We do not need a plethora of agencies telling us what we can and cannot do. Are we going to become a nanny state? These are the type of people who protect the countryside.

Deputy Clare Daly, who I respect, said that the Road Safety Authority, RSA, is the only organisation which should be allowed to cut hedges. That is nonsense. In Tipperary there are signs in the famous village of Soloheadbeg, where in two years we will celebrate the first shots of the War of Independence. The RSA put up a disgraceful sign which I have been trying to have changed for 12 months. It is spelled incorrectly, and to change it back we have to seek the permission of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. It is baloney. The problem with this country is that there is too much control of things. We cannot do any bit of work on the N24 or any of the major roads without getting permission. One would get an audience with the Pope faster than an audience with the RSA. I have met the Pope several times, but I cannot meet the head of the RSA.

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