David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----whereby landowners could decide to cut hedges without any regulation at all. Section 8(2) of the Wildlife Act would therefore be completely overridden. The amendment to section 8(2) of the Heritage Bill is intended to make sure that road safety issues during the month of August are self-defined by landowners but are subject to regulation, and this regulation is now being removed. What was proposed and agreed in principle by the Minister last November was that road safety issues covered by a section 70 notice would be exempt from the Wildlife Act, but the actual effect of this amendment is that road safety issues all year round would be self-defined by landowners with no regulation, and for that reason section 8(2) of the Wildlife Act would be overridden. This is a disaster. I am not sure whether it was intended - I cannot believe it was - but having pointed it out now, I hope the Minister will rethink her position on the amendment, which is a last-minute effort and is highly dangerous. We on this side of the House at least have been very much warned against it and asked urgently to oppose it in the House.