Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister did not answer my question about whether she had communicated with landowners in the area. That is important, given the weather we enjoyed last summer and the changes in climate we are experiencing. I am sure the Minister saw photographs of the fire on 30 March. It was disastrous and hundreds of acres of land were burned. A solicitor based in Killarney, Mr. Pat O'Connor, who is a former member of the local council, has said such fires are now an annual occurrence which are threatening the national park. He described them as causing "wanton destruction." What has the Minister done in response to this dreadful environmental tragedy in one of our premier tourist destinations? Has she visited the site? Has she met local landowners? Has she put in place an information and support system for landowners in order that they will not engage in burning outside the burning season?

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