Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 May 2018
60. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the Heritage Bill for the breeding of birds and bees during the month of March; the engagement her Department has had with concerned NGOs such as the organisation and An Taisce regarding the draft legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19981/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.
Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties including from An Taisce and the organisation in question, proposals were announced in December 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times within the existing closed period on a pilot two year basis. The legislation required to allow for these pilot measures is included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016.
I am aware of a recent submission made to my Department by the organisation concerned on the provisions on hedge cutting and burning in the Heritage Bill and various organisations have raised their concerns at meetings with my Department.
The Bill has completed its passage through Seanad Éireann and completed Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann yesterday.
In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts remain in force.
