NO sooner did the Labour Party introduce its proposed modest bill last week to facilitate legal access to mostly unproductive mountain land than it was subjected to the usual brainless tirade from the main farming organisations.

WE are not over impressed by recent IFA claims of a breakthrough in negotiations with Rural Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív about access to the countryside.

Landowners had for many years an understandable case for opposing passage through their land , on the basis that they were liable to have to pay damages if somebody got injured by walking into a hole or through some misadventure.