Common Sense Prevails At Last For Hedge Cutting – McGrath
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has welcomed the decision of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys to review of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts, which sets controls on the burning and cutting of vegetation in rural areas. Deputy McGrath went on to say that practices like road side hedge cutting which is included in the review was something he had been highlighting at Government level since 2009:
“The restrictions on the time frame allowed for activities like road side hedge cutting were in desperate need of change and so in that sense I have no hesitation in welcoming today’s decision.
I am somewhat disappointed however that the Minister has limited this exercise to a two year trial as part of the Heritage Bill 2015.
What we need in rural Ireland is recognition by Government that farmers are best placed to exercise judgement about these matters and that they should not be prohibited from exercising that judgement In the name of a vague policy on habitats or biodiversity.
The wellbeing and safety of the motorist is what should take precedence here; a precedence I might add which has been obstructed by the current out of touch policy on hedge cutting.
I am delighted that at long last the balance has started to swing in favour of common sense and away from the excessively cautious approach which has existed to date,” concluded Deputy McGrath.
