Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 57 relates to the maintenance of a register. On Committee Stage I referred to the EMBER project that had demonstrated the effects of moorland burning on the ecology of river basins, which is practised predominantly to support the red grouse population for gun sports. Senator Daly highlighted that the red grouse population in his area had recovered through good practice as people acted as the guardians of the countryside. However, there is a need for a register to know what is going on in the countryside. Long-term monitoring under the EMBER project has shown a significant negative impact on peat hydrology, chemistry and physical properties, river water chemistry and river ecology. We need a clear record of what is happening on peatlands and uplands in the context of gorse burning. The changes to bogs and upland peatlands are not clear, particularly in respect of how often different areas may be burned to encourage grass growth. Senator David Norris has clearly covered the numbers of bird species and pollinators that can be affected by this, but the effects of upland burning on soil erosion and expensive flood relief works being carried out and the sponge effect of the upper peatlands have not been covered. It seems we want to race to extend the area that can be burned when the current areas are not even controlled properly. In 2005, 4,500 acres of land in Killarney alone was damaged by burning out of season, but there was little enforcement at the time and not much data was available subsequently. I accept that this is difficult. Somebody can go to the uplands, set a fire, go to the pub and before anybody realises what has happened, the damage has been done. I strongly support the proposal for the establishment of a register. We must protect uplands. If we do not know what is happening and cannot monitor what is happening in the long term, there will not be a scientific basis for decisions.