Environment
There are concerns that new EU guidance on bird protection could have far-reaching and unintended consequences for Irish farmers.
Rural Life
Serious damage was caused to a wet heath habitat in Kerry after a sheep farmer used a heavy machine to construct a track, a court was told.
The estimated level of investment required to manage and restore habitats and species to the status required under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives is circa €163 million per annum, or €1.138 billion over a seven-year period.
