Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that this year's national TidyTowns competitions are up and running again having not gone ahead last year. It is great news for some 900 communities of various sizes throughout the length and breadth of the country that do great work week in, week out, tidying up their villages and towns. I refer not only to the picking up litter we usually see volunteers doing, but also to actions they take to address climate change with respect to biodiversity or sustainability projects. By and large, the TidyTowns projects lead the way. I cannot but mention the fact that Glaslough in County Monaghan are the reigning all-Ireland champions. We are very proud of that achievement and of all the volunteers, not only in Glaslough but in Carrickmacross and other towns in County Monaghan and County Cavan and throughout the country. We are deeply indebted to them for the work they do.

While I welcome the fact that the competitions are going ahead, many people have told me they are disappointed the adjudication this year will be in a virtual context only. I find that decision somewhat baffling bearing in mind county travel is now permitted. Perhaps that decision was made when the situation was worse with respect to Covid. Thankfully and hopefully by the end of June, 80% of the population will have received a vaccination. One would have thought that would limit the danger for adjudicators travelling to a village or town. The volunteers look forward to the adjudicators coming and seeing how their town or village performs. The Deputy Leader might respectfully use her good offices to write to the Department to ask it for a reappraisal of that decision and it might reconsider it with a view to having some form of physical presence by an adjudicator at this year's competitions. With the good weather, we can see increased activity on farms across the country. That brings its own dangers because, unfortunately, up to 40% of all fatal work accidents happen on farms. They are dangerous places to be. We can all see that silage cutting is up and running. Many farmers are taking cattle out of sheds and onto grassland. That brings with it potential dangers. There are many dangers on a farm that farmers need to be aware of. With school holidays coming, many young farm children will be out, running about on their parents' properties. Farmers are outside working all day and they are exposed to the sun and the dangers which come with that. I ask that farmers be aware of these facts and take a minute to think before they take on a task, and perhaps we can limit the number of accidents that happen on farms this year.