Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin opposes the Bill for many reasons. Obviously, we are all very conscious of having to protect our environment and wildlife, and of road safety. I grew up in a rural area and am very much aware of those aspects.

I am very concerned over the decline in the bird population. One figure suggests that our bird population has declined by a quarter over a number of years. Much of that is down to irresponsible work carried out by some farmers, in particular the uncontrolled burning on hills and mountains. Many of my age group will remember in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s welcoming spring with the arrival of the cuckoo. I have not heard a cuckoo for years and many other people living in rural areas would have a similar experience. Deputy Tóibín, who is beside me, says he has never heard a cuckoo, which is down to the lack of management and lack of control of our hedges, ditches and so forth.

An aspect of it goes back to what was called progressive farming - removing ditches and hedges to make huge fields for convenience to accommodate the type of machinery that is used nowadays. The cost we have paid has been the decline in a number of species of birds and the effect it has on wildlife. It has not all been progressive; it has had that effect. Travelling along motorways, one will see areas with one field that previously had four fields, and the associated protection for the wildlife is gone.

Frequent cutting has also done damage to bees owing to the decline in the flowers they need to produce honey. Fewer flowers result in fewer bees.

I was very impressed by Deputy Ó Cuív's contribution on consultation and having focus groups sit down to decide on how to move forward. The consultation between the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the EU comprised just one informal meeting, which is inexcusable. We need many more meetings to ensure we have the necessary type of consultation.

It would be good if all the lobby groups came together to argue out their case. We all want to protect our wildlife, to ensure that our roads are safe and that needs to be done in a responsible way.

I do not accept that the powers are not there for local authorities and others to deal with areas which are a danger to the public, irrespective of the time of year. They have the legal authority to do it. That should certainly not be an argument against it.

Sinn Féin will be voting against the Bill but we want to offer constructive criticism. It is not just about scoring points. Collectively, all of us here want to do the right thing. We want to protect our birds and wildlife and ensure that our roads are safe. We want to ensure we keep our countryside as it should be for future generations. That is the role we will play in taking a position today. Consultation is needed and people must be listened to. Many arguments are made every day in the House on the decline of rural Ireland, usually with reference to the declining population and the lack of jobs. Our environment is equally important.

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