IFA National Hill Farming Chairman Flor McCarthy has criticised the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Culture Josepha Madigan for not allowing managed burning of gorse to take place in March.

“The Minister has failed to take account of how farmers manage their hill land responsibly and where land is burned, it is done in a managed way.

Issues such as recent wildfires can be avoided if the window for burning included the month of March, which was enacted into law through the passing of the Heritage Bill last year.”

The weather conditions for burning are not the same throughout the country and putting a blanket ban to burning in March this year is a retrograde step.

It indicates a lack of understanding of the practical issues farmers face in managing their hill farms.