Government needs to live up to its promise on hen harrier land

AN ‘agreement’ made between farming groups and Government regarding the hen harrier – but there has been no movement on it, which is resulting in farmers becoming increasingly frustrated.

That is according to Jason Fitzgerald of Ballydesmond whose land is hen harrier. He said that farmers are frustrated with the progress that Government has made in dealing with the serious issues related to the designating of 169,000 hectares of land.

There is also the problem with the ban on afforestation and the complete devaluation of farm land.

He said no evidence has been produced that designating this amount of land has benefitted the hen harrier population in any way.

“In fact less than 40% of hen harriers now rest in designated lands which would suggest these lands were chosen for financial reasons. The National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) claim that farmers are only entitled to compensation for income forgone and work carried out to enhance the effectiveness for the habitant,” he said.

Mr Fitzgerald, who was a Renua Ireland candidate in the last general election said it is more beneficial from the Government point of view to designate more marginal land as the income lost as a result of the designation is less than it would be on intense type land.

“Ironically, if good quality land was designated it wouldn’t be devalued, where as marginal type land which is dependent on the availability of afforestation to help retain its value,” he said.

He said an agreement was made between the Government and “farming organisations” which was put in place so farmers wouldn’t be disadvantaged by the designation.

He said this agreement was updated by the Fianna Fail Minister Martin Cullen in 2005 prior to the commencement of the designation process. In that document, it gives an assurance that where a farmers land becomes devalued as a result of the designation that farmers will be compensated. Mr Fitzgerald believes it is now time that the Government lives up to its responsibility. He said despite the IFDL continuously requesting for a designation option for farmers who need to sell land, the Minister has outlined that this avenue is not possible. However, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphrey’s has now announced that the drafting of legislation has been approved as a matter of priority for the de-designation of 39 raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) and the part de-designation of seven raised bog NHAs. Mr Fitzgerald said the legislation is an important step forward in terms of securing a long terms resolution of turf cutters.