Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the remarks of colleagues on the sad passing of former Deputy, Noel Treacy. Prior to entering politics, Noel was an auctioneer and sold a lot of sheep. My father and uncle were two of his better customers, so I knew him for a long time outside politics. The Cathaoirleach rightly said, among Noel's many gifts and talents, his ability to remember faces and names was unbelievable. I was introduced to him by my father on one occasion in what was a very brief encounter. When I met him several years later, without any prompting he greeted me as "Young Daly". I do not have to explain that it was not today or yesterday that he made that comment. It was an unbelievable gift he had, along with many others. Go ndéarna Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal.

I wish to raise a pressing matter relating to the Waste Management Act (Prohibition of Waste by Burning) Regulations 2009. Under these regulations, household or industrial waste may not be disposed of by burning. However, there was, and is, an exemption to allow farmers to burn bushes. Unfortunately, this exemption was allowed to expire on 1 January and this is causing significant concern among the agricultural community. Farmers are only allowed burn during the season in which they are allowed to cut, that is, from 1 September to 28 February. Due to the nature of the dampness of and sap in bushes, many farmers cut early in the season and then stockpile the cuttings, let them dry out and then burn them before the season expires on 28 February. They do so under licence from the environmental section of their local council and in compliance with a condition under which they have to inform the local fire brigade. However, nobody was informed this exemption was being allowed to expire. It has come as a shock to environmental sections within county councils across the country, which now find themselves unable to issue the said licences. There are stockpiles of bushes all over the country that cannot be disposed of in any other fashion. This is vital. I have contacted the Taoiseach and the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Environment, Climate and Communications but I think we need to put the weight of the House behind the request. It is a narrow window. The season will expire on 28 February anyway but, as of now, councils are at a loss as to what they can or should do. They cannot even inform farmers of any alternatives. Those who have stockpiled have no alternative. I would greatly appreciate the House getting behind the push to get the exemption reinstated in light of the urgency of the matter. The exemption will expire on 28 February anyway with the end of the cutting season.