Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In effect, there are two halves at work in section 8. In the first there is the extension of burning into the month of August. I realise we will not get a chance to vote on the amendments I tabled on the issue. They were quite nuanced and also considered invasive species. I trust our colleagues in the Dáil will address the very serious concerns about gorse burning and the damage caused by it to habitat and the long-term impact of the exact same issues the Minister is now suggesting she will address in regulations for hedgerows under amendment No. 53. The same issues in respect of pollination, habitat and natural heritage that affect birds, bees and pollinator plants still apply to upland burning and upland removal also. This debate will continue in the Dáil. The Minister has said she will introduce regulations. Is she also planning to make regulations for gorse burning in the extended period? Is it envisaged that she will also publish regulations and express the same concerns about management, maintenance and husbandry in section 2? Will that apply to the section dealing with gorse burning or simply to the section that deals with hedgerows?

I came to the House hoping to welcome the move towards ameliorating, to some degree at least, the extraordinary damage that can be done to hedgerows in the month of August by limiting the cutting to hedgerows on the roadside. Unfortunately, I am extremely concerned because while it is not adequate, I had hoped to welcome it at least as a small concession. We will come to amendments dealing with the regulations and where they might be published. I am concerned about the policy intent in a later section which effectively will undo the progress made in amendment No. 53. If amendment No. 53 represents what I believe has been a genuine, an open, a well intentioned and honest debate and engagement across the House by those with different perspectives to come to a form of compromise on the Heritage Bill and, even though we may not agree fully, reach an amelioration, we are in danger of undoing the good that will be done by the later amendments tabled by the Minister. I will support amendment No. 53, but I regret that there might be a danger of what it symbolises being diluted later in the Bill by means of the Government's amendments. I hope the Minister will consider the withdrawal of amendment No. 63.