'Unfair and unjust to blame' farmers for illegal fires started by others

A "significant number" of payments were affected as a result of detections of illegal burning during the 2022 fire seasons. 

Gorse fire in Bawnbue, West Cork, on February 27. Picture: Andy Gibson.

A farm organisation has said that farmers "must not become collateral damage" as action is called for discouraging illegal burning. 

In discussing the recent fires across counties Cork and Kerry, Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association president Vincent Roddy pointed to the "enormous damage and cost of these fires for farmers in terms of fencing, loss of grazing and other related issues".