Bird Watch Ireland are concerned that Heritage Bill 'could lead to roadside hedgecutting without any regulatory oversight or protection for wildlife'

BirdWatch Ireland is disappointed that the controversial Heritage Bill was approved in Dáil Éireann.

It is important to note that the Bill must still go back to the Seanad for final review, then await the signature of the President of Ireland and the enactment of regulations before it comes into force. The existing regulations under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibiting hedgecutting until August 31, notwithstanding the exemptions for cutting for road safety concerns, still stand.

The Heritage Bill contains provisions which will alter the dates of the closed period for the burning of vegetation and ‘the cutting, grubbing, removal and otherwise destroying of hedgerows’ contained in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act (1976 and amended 2000). The legislation which will be implemented through as-yet unseen regulations would allow burning of uncultivated land including mountains and hills in March extending the open period for burning by one month.

The provision would last for two years before review and potential continuation by Oireachtas approval.

According to wildlife experts, the extension of burning in March could negatively impact threatened bird species like Curlew and Hen Harrier which will have returned to the uplands to begin their nesting activities at that time. The extension to the burning season has been proposed as a measure to stop out-of-control fires like those seen in Cloosh Valley in 2017.

However, BirdWatch Ireland is concerned that this will not have the intended result and other measures need to be considered

Bird Watch Ireland said: " We are concerned that the changes could lead to roadside hedgecutting without any regulatory oversight or protection for wildlife, worsening already weak enforcement of Section 40 of the Wildlife Act. Currently, concerns for breeding birds from road side hedgecutting on roads with no obvious road safety hazard is the number 1 complaint to BirdWatch Ireland from members of the public every year."