Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

As this debate goes on, it is clear that the Heritage Bill 2016 is poorly thought out in respect of a range of on-road and off-road measures. If there is a real road safety problem, we should be improving the Road Safety Acts. I am not here to knock farmers. I would not want to do that at any stage. I do not want to get involved in the kind of slash-and-burn language that has been mentioned. Farmers make a substantial contribution to the economy. They will come under significant pressure as a result of the UK referendum and what is happening in the markets. If they are to get a quality price, it is important for them to have a quality product that is developed in an environmentally friendly way and has a story attached to it. The hedgerows must be part of that story, but instead we are attacking our own environment. We are noted for our hedgerows. When I talk to tourists, they always tell me they amazed by our hedgerows. Senator Lombard let the cat out of the bag earlier when he said that the down week which farmers normally have in August is the best time to do this job because there is no way of knowing how the weather will change in September.