Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist tábhachtach seo. The management of Ireland's upland areas is a responsibility shared by many, including land users, landowners and various bodies and agencies tasked with its management. As Minister of State, my focus in this regard is on the protection of nature. Sustainable grazing is an important nature conservation measure. My Department's NPWS farm plan scheme and the EU LIFE Wild Atlantic Nature project are examples of how locally targeted and adapted agri-environmental measures can be highly effective when implemented in areas of high environmental priority across the country, including upland Natura 2000 sites, and are highly valued by the people who take part in them.

I unreservedly condemn the recent spate of fires. I thank all of the fire and emergency service personnel who risked life and limb to tackle these fires and bring them under control. They have caused significant environmental damage in upland areas. As the Deputy correctly said, some refer to this as planned or controlled burning. This is a misnomer. If it gets out of hand, which it invariably does, it is uncontrolled burning. In fact, it is worse; it is indiscriminate burning and causes criminal damage to nature, water, property and people's health. I have examined the red grouse project in Scotland and know that there are instances in which controlled burning can be effective. It is important to note that it can be an effective tool. However, I have also received correspondence this week from residents living in the parts of Kerry the Deputy referenced who have had to remain in their houses with their children while those fires were burning. It is grossly irresponsible. It is critically important that every member of society realises the damage that can be caused to property and the health and welfare of families, neighbours, the wider community and the responding emergency services.

The main source of these fires is the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the consequences. The NPWS works closely with the fire service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, to investigate the causes of fires in our national parks and reserves, protected sites and the wider countryside. This week, the service has deployed increased fire patrols across sites. This has included aerial monitoring, with eyes in the sky over recent days. Where appropriate, cross-compliance is pursued with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My staff are committed to finding solutions to the problem of these fires. I call on all stakeholders, including local communities, to work with us to find a way forward. Where evidence is forthcoming, appropriate enforcement under the Wildlife Acts or other legislation will be pursued.

However, it should be noted that, due to the sheer scale of land involved coupled with the remote location of lands and the sporadic occurrence and dynamic nature of such fires, it is simply not possible to provide a universal and visible presence as a deterrent on the ground. My national parks and reserves network alone covers 87,000 ha and approximately 14% of the State is designated as either a special area of conversation or a special protected area with much of this land in private ownership. These areas are the heart and lungs of our country. Trying to identify those who deliberately set fires in open areas without concern for the consequences can be challenging.

I am pleased to report that our ground patrols have interrupted some of those setting fires in recent days and that a number of live criminal investigations are under way. Furthermore, the overflights enable us to identify the seats of such fires and, as a consequence, pursue both criminal prosecutions under the Wildlife Acts and cross-compliance penalties with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The issue here is individuals being more responsible for the actions they take and being mindful of the potential damage to life, nature and property that can be caused by deliberately setting fires. The perpetrators of these acts are known in their communities. I ask that information be given in confidence to the NPWS or the Garda confidential line so that illegal and uncontrolled fires can be investigated.

Nobody has the right to unilaterally declare that they are going to burn land indiscriminately. These acts fall into the category of socially unacceptable as they damage entire communities and, frankly, give all, including those who act responsibly, a bad name. It is that irresponsibility that is driving the extensive calls for a change in the law. In any event, it is probably timely to look again at the six-month period during which burning may take place, especially in light of changing climate and weather patterns, nesting and breeding habitats and international nature compliance obligations.

See this speech in context