Machinery
An agricultural contractor and a farmer won a court case that was taken by the NPWS in relation to hedge-cutting, according to the FCI.
Environment
An extension to the hedge-cutting season has been ruled out – with the annual ban on...
There will be significant rural anger at the scrapping of Heritage Bill proposals, according to independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath.
Rural Life
There is "massive anger and frustration within rural communities" over news that changes to the Heritage Act will not be in place this year.
The cutting of roadside hedges is set to remain prohibited next month, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed.
The controversial Heritage Bill was successfully passed through Seanad Eireann last night (Wednesday, July 11), sparking a mix of reactions.
The passage of the Heritage Bill through the Dail this week "marks a dark day for Irish biodiversity", Environmental Pillar has said.
Changes in The Heritage Bill to the times when managed hedge-cutting will be permitted have been called "necessary for driver safety".
The fact that the Heritage Bill has progressed onto the next stage in the legislative process has been welcomed as "major progress".
People's lives cannot be put at risk for the sake of birds, Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae said in the Dail recently.
No right-minded farmer would light an illegal gorse fire and walk away, Teddy Creedon, who is an IFA Hill Representative, said.
A total of 27 wild fires were recorded by the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) during the bird nesting season in 2016.
The proposed changes to the Heritage Bill, to allow hedgecutting in August on a pilot basis, would only allow the "trimming of one season's growth".
The proposed legislation under the bill is to allow for hedgecutting during August and burning at certain times of the year.
