Eric J. Byrne
Question:173 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that no ecological damage from overgrazing will result from the fencing of commonage: his views on whether the economic benefits to the sheep farmers concerned will lift them out of the welfare trap; if hill-walkers or other environmentalists have expressed the view that the penning of mountain sheep which are traditionally grazed freely is an environmentally retrograde step; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14233/95]