Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. It is very welcome that that has been launched today. However, there is still a need for that screening process. I have raised the issue of hedgerows with the Minister of State again and again. People need to exceed 500 m before that screening process kicks in. What we are worried about is that, over the consultation period, people will take advantage of what will most likely be more lax regulations in the interim.

We do not want to see a rash of hedge clearing or scrub clearance - those semi-natural environments referenced by the Minister - happening during the consultation period. I welcome the initial part of the Minister's statement but we need additional protections in the interim while we are carrying out that consultation process.

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