Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reassure Deputy Eamon Ryan that the fires in March will not be the result of a carte blanche. In 2008, the Government of which he was a member stopped recruiting NPWS rangers. This Government is now recruiting rangers. I stress to Deputy Boyd Barrett that the positive effect of managed burning at the correct time of year is important. Unmanaged burning results in extensive areas of upland burning for long periods and irreversible change to the habitat. My Department's NPWS is constantly maintaining and counting species. We spend millions per annum on our science programme and that is how we know about species in decline. The reports the Deputy cited are NPWS reports.

Deputy Healy-Rae made an interesting point. Approximately 455,000 ha or 6.4% of the country is covered by hedgerows, individual trees and woodlands. The birds are still protected. I assure Deputy Burton that the Bill will not result in the removal of a single hedgerow. It will allow the trimming of a single year's growth on the road-facing side of roadside hedges. I agree that our hedgerows need to be cared for and managed and the Bill seeks to allow for careful management of our hedges on roadsides. The Labour Party supported the Heritage Bill 2016 when it was published and Deputy Burton was a member of the Government that approved the Bill. We are not scalping hedges and to suggest that is a mistake. The Deputy should know that we are prohibiting flails and grubbing, which is an improvement. We also have provided for prosecutions under the Wildlife Act.

See this speech in context