James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. During Covid, there has perhaps been an issue around public awareness on many different issues and, in particular, when these changes will occur and what they actually mean. Perhaps there is concern that these changes will have a greater legal impact than they will in fact have.

I agree with the Senator that rights of way can be extremely contentious. Good neighbours have become bitter enemies over rights of way. As someone who practised as a barrister for 14 years, I have witnessed this myself. We should always endeavour to have the law as clear as possible to ensure we do not have these kinds of contentious issues in our communities.

I will certainly bring to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, those concerns that affect the Department of Justice, and those that are more relevant to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.