Heritage Bill ‘should be scrapped’

The Government’s newly passed Heritage Bill should be scrapped entirely because of the damage it will do to wildlife in hedges across the country, TDs have claimed.

The bill, which passed through the Dáil by 64 votes to 33, has been sharply criticised by the Green Party and rural TDs, particularly due to a rule which will permit the cutting of hedges in August.

Eamon Ryan, the Green Party leader, said that the bill will do untold damage to wildlife which is already under attack.