Limerick IFA and farmers post warnings for Dúchas to ‘Keep Out’
The uplands of West Limerick, North Cork and North Kerry have become a battleground as farmers say they are determined to beat the Dúchas (Heritage Service) attempt to control land use, in order to preserve the Hen Harrier bird.
Limerick IFA Chairman, Michael O’Flynn said: “We have a situation in the county at the moment which is laughable if it was not so serious, where people are being displaced for the sake of birds.
That is being done by Dúchas in the name of protection for a few hen harriers. It appears not to matter what happens to the farmers who are the owners of their land.
“Dúchas can come along and put a conservation order on our land without any consultation, violating our rights as citizens of Ireland, without a word about compensation. When you go to drain your land, cut rushes on the land, open a drain on the land, Dúchas will tell you that you cannot do it,” he said.
“You have to apply for planning permission to cut the rushes on your land or do any development work whatsoever on your land,” he said.
Dúchas was transferred to Minister Cullen’s Department of the Environment and Local Government last year. Mr O’Flynn said Limerick IFA has met with Environment Minister Martin Cullen.
“He gave us all of two minutes of his time and that was all he could afford. He said he agreed with us and said he needed more wind energy.
“He was telling us that he agreed with us and at the same time turning down planning permission for wind generating farms in the area and turning down planning permission for forestry.”
Mr O’Flynn said that wind energy generation and forestry are the two sources of income which could keep more people in the North Munster uplands.
He said Dúchas is showing no regard for farmers or the implications of their restrictions on their land. Their approach and proposed controls on land would not be accepted by farmers, who have a right to be allowed to get a living from their land.
He told farmers at the AGM of Limerick IFA at Adare that IFA is totally behind their opposition to proposed conservation controls.
