Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am keen to respond to my colleague in Fianna Fáil to be clear. I would be concerned if there were any perception of an attribution of any malice of intent towards farmers. I have spoken about this previously. My colleagues, who have worked with a number of farmers on this matter, have spoken about it too. We have discussed the crucial role farmers play as custodians of our green space. They have responsibility for a vast part, not only of our economy, but of our society and heritage. Many of them take this seriously and have a passionate concern in this regard. Many of the letters and expressions of concern I have read have come from farmers.

Let us consider the proposals at a practical level, for example, the measures taken in Clare. Indeed, let us consider the proposals from Fine Gael on how we support farmers with the costs and management of appropriate hedge cutting. Practical measures can be put in place. What is being offered by Fine Gael does not provide support to farmers. It is not a help to farmers. It will not produce additional supports. It has no clarity or further means for them. It is simply a blanket ad hoc provision with additional responsibilities that have been thrown on farmers alone, especially with regard to the August extension.

Many farmers have contacted us and many people are talking about this. We spoke today with upland farmers who are seriously concerned about gorse burning. I am not using the term "burning" in a pejorative sense. Burning is the act; that is what it is. Gorse burning has an impact on their farms. Of all people, farmers understand the interdependence, interconnection and intricacy at play.

Others have spoken previously on the Wildlife Bill, which originated in this Chamber. They spoke about the magnificent subtleties present in wildlife as well as the complex interaction. Farmers understand that, and this is why many farmers have concerns about the damage that burning can do to soil. They have concerns over hedgerow cutting as well. They have deep concerns about pollination.

We have a national pollinator plan, but it is not referenced anywhere in the Bill. Hedgerows are absolutely core to pollination. They are the centre of the bees, butterflies and all the pollinators in Ireland. They are the key to the green Ireland that we seek to promote to the world. We have heard about the bees and the honey industry. We have also heard about many of the high-quality food industries here. A great festival took place recently in the west of Ireland. There were talks about the high quality of local artisan food. Hedgerows and hedgerow plants play a key role in that regard.

Reference has been made to the question of the two-year pilot. Let us not underestimate the concerns over what might happen in a two-year pilot. Ireland has a number of birds on the red list. These birds are at risk of absolute extinction. The birds on the list include the barn owl, the yellow hammer and the curlew. There are 150 nesting pairs of curlews. That is all we have of the curlew in Ireland. What guarantees do we have? Will we check after two years to see whether we still have 150 pairs of curlews? Maybe we will have five, maybe we will have none or maybe we will have lost another species of great deep historical significance and resonance in Ireland. We could also talk of the golden plover and the meadow pippet. These birds are on the red list as well. Then there are many birds and species on the amber list and they are vulnerable too. What is the projection of the number of our birds and animals that are now in jeopardy and that will move into the endangered category over a two-year period?

Senators Humphreys and Norris made reference to the larder. Let us not assume the larder will automatically be replenished. We need to ensure that it is. We need to protect it. The hedgehog, for example, has been absolutely depleted in the United Kingdom. The species is now the subject of extensive re-integration in urban areas. Those involved are trying to bring it back.

I have tried to highlight several concerns. Others have spoken to the many technical problems of the pilot, as proposed. Another problem we have is the estimated damage. Normally, we would not put anything through this House without a cost benefit analysis. There is no benefit analysis in this case. I concur with Senator Humphreys and I call on the Minister to reconsider the Bill as a whole.