Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The type of remedy that farmers want is to be able to tell people trespassing on their land to leave and that there will be consequences if they do not do so. They want there to be consequences for people for being on their land. There may be a civil remedy available but that requires farmers to institute proceedings against unknown individuals who then have to be brought before the courts. Farmers have to apply for injunctions before a civil court restraining those persons from coming back onto their land. That is a very complex and detailed process. Farmers require greater protection than that being afforded to them at present. Their legitimate concern is that people are coming onto their property to see if there is any valuable equipment on it and with a view to returning subsequently to try to obtain that equipment. This is something that the Minister, as a rural Deputy, will know is happening and other rural Deputies in this House tell me that it is happening frequently. There may be trespass-related provisions on the Statute Book but, unfortunately, they are not being used by members of An Garda Síochána and they are not effective for farmers.

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