Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

These people are well able to do this. If that were done, it would be a good thing. What is happening at the moment is that some of these so-called NGOs are telling us how to live our lives in rural parts of Ireland.

There is a great deal of new legislation dealing with canals in this context. A previous speaker referred to the new de-designation of 48 national heritage areas. It is a pity the person did not read the reason they were de-designated. It was because we looked at the best possible scenario to increase active raised bog habitat. We came up with the tier 1 and tier 2 set-up. By doing this, we ensure that we have the best possible active raised bog habitat. That is why those responsible went for the tier 1 option. Some people do not like to read this. Accurate information is needed.

One aspect of the Bill concerns me. I read a section earlier and I will talk to the Minister later on about it. I am referring to the new reference to an authorised officer in section 7. If I have it right, such a person has a right to go in on private property. I question this provision. I would debate the point in the context of a High Court ruling on private property rights. I am referring to sections 7B, 7C and 7D as proposed to be inserted by section 5. I realise a garda can get a warrant and go in wherever he wants, that is understandable. However, I question how valid the provision would be for an authorised officer who is not a garda.

In rural parts of Ireland we have seen people trying to do good in recent years. Unfortunately, some were brought up for cutting a little grass or hedge on the side of the road.

The new GLAS scheme is one example of how nature can attack itself. Under the new GLAS scheme a farmer can put in sand in various areas, for example, down a field. Farmers have done that. The bee population has grown as a result. However, the bees went in towards the ditches and bored holes in them. Then, the badgers came out from the woods – I actually saw an example of it this year. As well as swiping at the bees, they are swiping the honey and the lot. Sometimes nature goes against itself.

In the last storm we saw some problems arise, unfortunately. Our thoughts are with the people who lost their lives. I am all for ensuring that a person should not cut a tree without planting another tree in response. However, there is a great deal of difficulty, especially with ash dieback. Ash dieback is a major problem throughout the country. One could look at an ash tree and not know whether it was ready to fall. We must ensure that the trees on the side of the roads that are causing problems are cut. We should be honest about it. Most of these trees are stuck abroad on the side of the road and they are causing problems. The proof is in the amount of wires that have been pulled down belonging to the ESB. The ESB has had to put up approximately 700 km of cable. Telephone wires have been taken out as well. In some remote areas, it has taken longer than weeks to replace them. Something needs to be done for the people who lost their lives. Most of the big trees grow 50 ft or 60 ft. I am not talking about ordinary trees. There is no problem with a hedgerow with whitethorn and all the various trees, but the big overhanging trees are a major problem. If we keep letting this go, more people will be killed. I speak bluntly here. The first thing to say is that we need to ensure that we plant two trees for every one felled and I would have no problem with that. In any event, I believe we need to ensure that is done for safety reasons.

There seems to be a myth around that people in rural Ireland are going to go into every field and start cutting bushes and trees in the first week in March. In case people might not know it, much of the land is wet in March. Some people think that in August the farmers will be flying in and cutting this and that. They will not. They do not do something unless it is necessary work. Anyone who watches farmers knows that they always watch the nesting seasons. It is a pity that some of these commentators do not come down and watch the way people live in rural parts of Ireland to understand what the inhabitants are brought up with.

The big problem has been on the roads. The Minister should talk to any of the school bus drivers or lorry drivers. They are in trouble with their mirrors. Approximately €5 million per year is the cost to insurance companies for car transporters that get caught with branches along the roads. Unless we sort that problem, it will continue to cost the economy.

We can have nature and we are brought up with nature. I believe that if we work with the community and farmers, then we can have everything working together. However, there is absolutely no point otherwise. We hear the way some people bullyrag others about the managed landscape. I heard someone refer earlier to Connemara. It is true that there were fires in Connemara and in other parts of the country. There were fires outside Dublin as well. Who gets the immediate blame? It is the fault of the farmer. Then, the complaint is that the farmer was not fined. That is all that is in anyone's head.

I am a long time going around rural parts of Ireland, but I do not know that people go out willy-nilly in the height of warm weather and decide to set a fire. Unfortunately, some people who may be visiting an area could throw something out a window and that could cause a fire. In any event, the farmer gets blamed. It was sad to see it happen in the instance I have outlined.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that if a fire went through a farmer's holding, the grants may be stopped. I am not suggesting it was the Minister who said this and, in fairness, the Department had to clarify the point later. Everyone has seen bog fires since they were knee's height down through the years. The area regenerates. If a bog fire started years ago, it could spread across five townlands. Are we to blame everyone who has a bog for that?

Was the fire started maliciously? In most cases, the fire will not have been started maliciously, although I am not arguing that none was started maliciously. Unfortunately, some people were at work along the sides of roads with large volumes of traffic. It is disingenuous of the so-called do-gooders to blame farmers. We have managed the landscape for years yet we are treated like pupils in the classroom who are told what to do by teachers. I will examine more closely the authorised officer set-up because, based on my experience over the years, I am concerned about some of the proposals in the Bill.

I welcome the proposal to extend the burning season. While I am aware that this is part of a pilot scheme, the Bill provides that the two-year period may be extended, which is welcome. I hope the measure will receive support. While there is no problem listening to concerns people may have, there is no point ramming something down the throats of people who have been doing something for their entire lives and know how our communities and environment work. To do so would be like me telling people in the centre of Dublin what they should do. There would not be much logic in doing that as I did not grow up in Dublin and do not know the ins and outs of the city. People learn as they go along, not in school. It is like a baton that has been handed on from generation to generation.

People in rural Ireland who make a mistake must fix it themselves at their own cost. If they make a mistake once, they will not make the same mistake again. People in rural Ireland should be recognised and applauded for what they have done over the years.

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