Rural Life
A Louth TD has highlighted to Minister Heydon the 'disproportionate impact' wildfires can have on landowners and rural communities.
Environment
As Easter approaches, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan has called for vigilance in protecting nature.
283 farmers were fined for illegal burning of land in 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The Department of Agriculture (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that 215 herds were associated with illegal burning in 2024.
A Waterford farmer has been convicted and fined a total of €4,450 for burning farm plastics, and other wastes in his farmyard.
The Department of Agriculture (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that it identified 665 herds associated with illegal burning in 2023.
Minister Charlie McConalogue has today issued a warning to landowners and members of the public not to carry out any illegal burning of land.
A Galway landowner has been fined €750 and disqualified from driving for two years after being convicted of illegal burning.
Opinion
It is not just illegal to burn land at this time of the year, it is also totally irresponsible, Minister Pippa Hackett writes.
Fires on rural lands have been noted since the closing date of March 1 with such lands now no longer eligible for BPS payments.
The Irish Wildlife Trust said it has received information showing that "throughout 2020, only two permits were issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service [NPWS] for ‘controlled’ burning in Ireland".
The Department of Agriculture has issued advice to farmers regarding agricultural and forestry land burnt during the closed season.
A strong warning has been issued to landowners not to carry out any illegal burning of land by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.
Pippa Hackett, Green Party Spokesperson on Agriculture, speaks about the recent illegal burning carried out across the country.
Agri-Business
Excluding illegally burnt land from 2017 BPS applications is a "kneejerk reaction", according to the Sinn Fein Agriculture Spokesperson.
Farmers caught burning areas of their land outside of the legal season may be ineligible for payment under Department schemes.
