Bill to safeguard walkers’ rights will defy Ó Cuiv
According to Keep Ireland Open (KIO), an umbrella body for groups advocating right of access to the countryside, the Bill is likely to come before the current Dáil session and would give legal weight to what ramblers see as their ancient right to roam.
The Bill would fly in the face of the Minister’s decision not to bring in similar legislation when earlier this year he set up Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) with a remit to provide better access to the land for walking.
“We feel that new legislation is essential if we are to get anywhere,” Mr Roger Garland, chairman of the KIO, said yesterday.
He declined to say what political party would be supporting the Bill. The KIO is a member of Comhairle na Tuaithe, along with farming and other interests.
“Without new legislation on mandatory listing of rights of way and the freedom to roam over rough grazing land we remainsceptical about the ability of the Council to deliver.”
His comments came after a protest walk in support of keeping an ancient right-of-way open to the public had to be abandoned on Sunday.
About 300 people - including a number of TDs - took part in the protest in north Co Wicklow, attempting to walk part of the old coach road between Enniskerry and Rathfarnham.
But the group was forced to turn back after a local land-owner, Mr Joe Walker, erected a steel fence across their path. Mr Walker was supported by members of the IFA as he confronted the protesters. The Enniskerry Walkers Association (EWA) says the right-of-way is documented in a 1757 map of Wicklow.
Mr Garland said Wicklow County Council had acknowledged in writing that the path is an established right-of-way.
“It is Wicklow County Council and not Joe Walker we should be picketing,” he said.
