Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 agus 18 le chéile.
Cé go bhfuil cuid de na ceisteanna seo i nGaeilge agus cuid eile i mBéarla, tá i gceist agam an freagra a thabhairt sa chéad áit i mBéarla. Beidh mé lán-sásta, ar ndóigh, ceisteanna forlíontacha a fhreagairt i gceachtar den dá theanga, de réir mar a oireann do Theachtaí.
I am aware of the concerns of the farming community about the transposition into Irish law of Directive 92/43/EEC and the subsequent designation of special areas of conservation — SACs — and I have received representations from the Connemara IFA among others in the matter. Directive 92/43/EEC was due to be implemented in Ireland in June 1994. However, despite the fact that we are already behind schedule and because of the possible institution of legal proceedings by the EU Commission, I have undertaken not to bring the directive into effect until February 1997, to ensure adequate time is given to consultations in respect of the compensation requirements and the proposals in general.
Before any designation of special areas of conservation occurs there will be full consultation. There has already been substantial consultation with farm organisations and this week with a number of local authorities. All land owners and land users, identified as having land included in the sites, will be provided with a site map, site description and details of the conditions applying to the site. There is no question of land being impounded, as suggested in one of the questions. The restrictions arising, if any, will be the minimum that will achieve the conservation of the site. For example, the conditions applied to blanket bogs, heaths, upland grasslands and to the Burren will be identical to those already agreed by the farming organisations for REPS in proposed natural heritage areas. These prescriptions for environmentally friendly farming for twothirds of the areas involved have already been agreed with farming organisations. Other prescriptions will be discussed and agreed in the same way. Farmers who are farming their lands in a sustainable manner will not need to make changes.
The sites have been selected on the criteria required under the habitats directive and the directive allows only for the consideration of scientific objections to designation. The cost of objections will vary from case to case and the question of how these costs should be borne is the subject of ongoing discussions with the farming organisations. Maps of the special areas of conservation will be published when the directive comes into effect.
I am pleased to inform the Deputies that the Government is agreeable as part of a new programme replacing the current PCW to pay a fair and proper level of compensation, having regard to the level and extent of restrictions and all reasonable losses arising as a result of the SAC designations. I shall appoint an independent arbitrator to adjudicate on disputes in relation to the level of compensation. In the interest of equity I will be proposing that the State should bear the cost of the arbitrator.
Natural heritage areas are still only at the proposal stage. There will be no designation until new legislation has been introduced and passed by the Oireachtas. There will be provisions for full consultation in the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, 1997.