Bid to relax hedge and burn rules threatened

Environmentalists have intensified their campaign against proposals to relax hedge-cutting and burning rules, which come before the Dail this week in the Heritage Bill.

“Extension of the burning season, with no increased resources for enforcement, will inevitably lead to more serious fires like the ones we have seen in recent weeks,” warned Green Party Senator Grace O’Sullivan, ahead of this week’s discussions in Dail Éireann of the Heritage Bill proposals to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times, within the existing closed period, on a pilot two-year basis.