Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
540 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to farmers who want to burn, cut hedges and so on; the time of the year this work can be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17293/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWildlife legislation lays down a number of restrictions designed to protect bird life during the nesting season, to prevent forest fires and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction. Under section 40(1)(a) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by section 46 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, it is an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on land not then cultivated during the period from 1 March to 31 August.
Under section 40(1)(b) of the Act as amended, it is an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch during the period from 1 March to 31 August. During this period it is not an offence, in the ordinary course of agriculture or forestry, to destroy vegetation growing in a hedge or ditch or to cut or grub isolated furze bushes or growths of fern, or to destroy any noxious weed to which the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 applies. Section 39 of the Wildlife Act 1976 lays down further particular restrictions and prohibitions on the burning of vegetation or the lighting of a fire nearwoods and other specified sites and specifies conditions to be met if it is proposed to burn vegetation.
