Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I said in July that there would be significant anger and frustration within rural communities when the Department confirmed, in response to a parliamentary question I submitted, that proposed regulations permitting the commencement of certain provisions of the Heritage Act 2018 are to be scrapped. The reply confirmed that plans to allow for hedgerow cutting during the month of August have now been abandoned in support of moves to protect nature and biodiversity. This is anti-democratic. It is a dangerous and ill-conceived concession from the Minister and the Government, which is proving yet again to be totally clueless about the reality of living in rural Ireland. Farmers and contractors are excellent custodians of the hedgerow and of nature. We are not out there slaughtering the ditches. We are acting in the interests of the health and safety of people trying to walk, to cycle or to enter or exit fields. Bushes grow out into the middle of the road. Tourists stop at road signs to try to clear them. I refer to signs indicating very interesting places on our heritage trails. It is farcical. We debated this matter for nearly two years, meeting all groups and stakeholders, and passed a Bill which the President then signed into law. Thereafter, the Minister acted at the behest of a small number of groups. Those groups do good work as well, but we need balance here. What is the point of having this Chamber and the Oireachtas to which we are elected if they are going to be undermined by conferences and groups campaigning on various issues? We all know about climate change, but farmers and rural people are very caring of biodiversity and of hedgerow flora and fauna. This is ridiculous regulation. It is fine in Dublin city where there are roads with signs, but in the country some bóithríns have been closed. One cannot walk up the middle of them because of the briars that hang down. These farcical regulations mean we are not allowed to cut them back in the interests of health and safety. The health and safety of the birds and bees is more important than the safety of human beings. That is where I draw a line. I will not accept what is happening.

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