February 28th, 2020 Last May, TCD and UCD were found cutting trees and hedges on their campuses during the closed period designed to protect nesting birds and other wildlife. Environmental lawyer Dr Andrew Jackson explains why we should all respect the closed period from 1 March to 31 August, and Read more…
July 4th, 2018 Key elements of the controversial Heritage Bill continue to divide opinion as it returns to the Dáil for debate this week. The Bill, now entering reporting stage, outlines plans to allow for scrub burning in March and hedge cutting in August. It is currently an offence under Read more…
March 12th, 2018 The Minister for Agriculture has issued a firm warning to farmers that they risk prosecution and a cut to financial support if found responsible for any illegal burning during the closed season. It is currently an offence under the Wildlife Act 1976 to burn any vegetation growing Read more…
August 23rd, 2017 An unusually dry spring this year resulted in some of the most devastating wildfires in living memory, but Ireland’s ecology is facing other continuing challenges. Current rules under the Wildlife Act allow adequate time for birds to nest, but they’ve been undermined by a government which is Read more…
June 23rd, 2017 Minister Heather Humphreys has not consulted with the Road Safety Authority about the Heritage Bill despite claims that road safety is at the Bill’s core, a Sinn Fein TD has said. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Peadar Toibin TD said that the RSA confirmed to him a Read more…