Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I will raise two issues related to the Bill. The spate of gorse fires in recent months is regrettably predictable. Every year, these dangerous fires destroy large parts of our landscape. The devastating fire in Killarney National Park has featured prominently. It should also be noted that there were several fires near Dunmanway, Clonakilty and Bantry in west Cork last week. Several units of the county fire services and Air Corps were involved in getting them under control. As the Taoiseach pointed out, wildfires are not a naturally occurring phenomenon in Ireland. Although we often do not know the exact cause, the most likely explanation is that those fires were started deliberately. In recognising this reality, we must also face up to the policy context of gorse fires.

Government agriculture policy and the Common Agricultural Policy are some of the key drivers that shape our landscape and the types of activities that are rewarded and punished. Unfortunately, both the CAP and the policies of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are geared towards certain types of farming and have neglected the needs of upland farmers and more marginal land for years. Only last week, the Opposition sought to have the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine oppose changes to the new CAP which would see the exclusion of rich carbon soils, including uplands and drained peatlands, from the basic payments. Unbelievably, areas with gorse and heather have also been removed from the list of areas for which payments will be made in the new environmental scheme. The Minister has to work with his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to put in place ambitious policies for sustainable use of these lands, including habitat restoration schemes, afforestation and payment for carbon sequestration. Planning and heritage legislation cannot be treated in isolation from agricultural policy, given its significant role in the Irish landscape and environmental impacts.

This is a cross-departmental issue which requires greater focus and commitment from the Government.

On a related point, section 13 of this Bill concerns the designation of natural heritage areas, NHAs. I urge the Minister to make progress on advancing proposed natural heritage areas for these 632 sites of significance for wildlife and habitat. While some of the protection is given by the proposed category, places such as Garrylucas wetlands near Kinsale need full protection.

I have raised the status of several sites in west Cork, such Garrylucas, with the Minister of State and through parliamentary questions he has informed me that a review of the sites is foreseen. We need this review now and we need the proposed sites to be properly recognised. Community groups are working hard to value and enhance these natural heritage areas and the least they can expect is that the State would do its part too. Damage to uplands and natural heritage sites usually falls under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage but it overlaps with the responsibilities of many other Ministers, especially that of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. To ensure the protection and responsible and sustainable use of these areas, we need a cross-departmental approach that is clearly working towards the same goals. Unfortunately, this has been lacking. We need the Minister of State to take an active role in providing greater coherence in Government policy to support farmers and landowners in managing the landscape.

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