Climbdown on burning of green waste by farmers

ENVIRONMENT Minister and Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan, has climbed down in relation to the lapsing of an exemption for the burning of so-called ‘green waste’ on farms at certain times of the year.

There had been a strong reaction from rural TDs in late January when it emerged that the exemption allowing for the burning of timber and leaf-based farm trimmings had not been reinstated.

Roscommon-Galway Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, had last week called for the reinstatement of the exemption on the basis that farmers had no other means of disposing of branches and hedge cuttings.

However, last week, Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, confirmed in a statement to an Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, that the ‘green burning’ exemption had been reinstated.

Deputy Fitzmaurice, in welcoming the announcement from the Minister, said that the exemption was a practical tool for farmers where no other viable alternative existed.

“This involves co-operation between farmers, local authorities and the fire service and is only allowed to occur during a prescribed period.

“There was no value in permanently removing the exemption under the legislation for farmers and it is good to see the relevant ministers and departments listening to reason on the matter,” said Michael Fitzmaurice.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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