Ragwort Growing Outside Leinster House is a National Embarrassment Senator
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is responsible for overseeing the control and the prevention of the spread of certain weeds under the Noxious Weeds Act.
Under the act it is an offence not to prevent the spread of ragwort, broad-leaved dock, creeping thistle, curled dock, spear thistle, spring wild oat and winter wild oat, and blackgrass.
The owner, occupier, user, or managers of lands on which these weeds are present and not being controlled are subject to the provisions of the act, including a fine of up to €1,000 on conviction.
DAFM has said it constantly engages with all county councils, local authorities, and the National Roads Authority (NRA) to ensure a "consistent programme of treatment and disposal of such weeds on an ongoing basis".
However, the Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy today (Tuesday, July 15) drew attention to the fact that ragwort is growing in front of Leinster House, which he described as "a shameful symbol of non-compliance".
Senator McCarthy said: "If ragwort can flourish outside the very building where laws are made, it undermines our credibility and duty to uphold them."
"We must act now this is no longer a rural issue. It's a national embarrassment.
According to Teagasc, farmers must, under conditionality requirements, take "appropriate measures" to prevent the spread of noxious weeds under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) number 8.
" Failure to do so may result in the application of a reduction of their area-based payments," it has warned.
Senator McCarthy said ragwort's bright yellow flowers may appear benign "but beneath its sunny facade lies a grave risk to Ireland's agricultural heritage and public health".
"Ragwort contains toxic alkaloids that can fatally damage the livers of horses and cattle. Landowners face fines of up to €1,000 for failing to control its spread.
"The plant's conspicuous presence on motorways, farmland, urban estates and now on the grounds of Leinster House, demands immediate enforcement and public awareness," the senator said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Farmers Need Clarity From Minister on New Derogation Assessments Sinn Fein
Minister Martin Heydon has been urged today (Tuesday, July 8) to "give clarity" to farmers on a European Commission requirement that Ireland 'must demonstrate compliance' with the Habitats Directive when granting farmers a nitrates derogation. The Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Kenny, said the new requirement from the European Commission, is a "very concerning development for those farmers who require the derogation". The TD for Sligo-Leitrim also believes the direction from the European Commission "will have a serious impact on many farms throughout the country and could potentially in some cases prevent some famers from getting a derogation". There are 600 sites in Ireland designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Sites range in size from 1ha up to 76,000ha. These sites are designated as either Special Conservation Areas (SAC) and/or Special Protection Areas (SPA). They are generally referred to as Natura 2000 sites. Under the Habitats Directive, any plan or project 'likely to have a significant effect on a designated site or species' must be subject to Appropriate Assessment of its implications for the site. The European Court of Justice has ruled that the 'grazing of cattle and or the application of fertilisers on the surface of land or below its surface' in the vicinity of Natura 2000 sites may be classified as a project. According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the granting of nitrates derogations is considered by the commission to be 'authorisation of a project' and is therefore subject to the assessment requirements of the Habitat's Directive. The DAFM has confirmed that the first stage in the Appropriate Assessment process is screening, which determines if a project 'is likely to have a significant effect on a designated site'. If the project is likely to have an effect – or if it is unclear what the effect might be – then the project must be subject to an Appropriate Assessment, which is a detailed impact assessment of the implications of the project on the 'integrity of a Natura 2000 designated site'. DAFM plans to carry out any screening and Appropriate Assessments at a 'catchment and sub-catchment' scale to deal with the nitrates derogation compliance requirement. There are 46 catchments in Ireland. These catchments are further divided into 583 sub-catchments. According to Deputy Kenny, Minister Heydon needs to provide clarity "on what these assessments involve, how long they will take and what it will mean for farmers.'
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
MEP tells commission 'stop moving goalposts' on derogation
An Irish MEP has called on the European Commission to clarify the specific conditions required for Ireland to maintain its nitrates derogation. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) yesterday (Monday, July 7) revealed that the commission has told Ireland it 'must demonstrate compliance' with the Habitats Directive when granting farmers a nitrates derogation. There are 600 sites in Ireland designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Sites range in size from 1 hectare up to 76,000ha. These sites are designated as either Special Conservation Areas (SAC) and or Special Protection Areas (SPA) and are generally referred to as Natura 2000 sites. Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly described the nitrates derogation as "essential to the viability of Ireland's grass-based farming model". The Independent Ireland MEP expressed frustration on behalf of Irish farmers for the additional European regulations that are now being demanded. 'The job of Irish farmers is getting tougher. After months of diligent work on water quality aimed at retaining our nitrates directive, comes yet another demand. "An assessment under the Habitats Directive was never part of this process up to now. It was never needed,' Mullooly said. The MEP said that in improving water quality and meeting existing environmental requirements, the Irish family farmers have delivered on those requests. He added that this has been confirmed by the latest water quality report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showing "significant reductions in nitrate levels'. 'It is the clear understanding of the Irish farming sector that adopting new technologies and strategies to protect water quality, particularly in areas with higher stocking rates per acre, would be sufficient to meet the required standards to retain the derogation. "This derogation is not optional, it's vital for the livelihoods of thousands of farm families. 'Farmers need clarity. I'm calling on the Irish agriculture minister [Martin Heydon] to engage with the commissioner and seek clear, concise guidelines and stop this ridiculous charade that's going on, before the commission moves the goalposts again," Mullooly said.
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Farmers seek clarification on GAEC 2 appeals as 'concerns' raised
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has urged the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to address farmer concerns and "move quickly to clarify the scope of GAEC 2 appeals". DAFM has launched an appeals process for the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition 2 (GAEC 2) with details released this week. GAEC 2 is the conditionality standard of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) related to the protection of peatlands and wetlands. It formally entered into force on May 1, which means that any works carried out before that date do not come under the scope of the condition. Under the condition, the maintenance of an existing drain is permitted and replacement is acceptable. However, new drainage on never-drained parcels of land will require planning permission or an exemption from the local authority, as is currently the case under national legislation. IFA rural development chair John Curran said details seem to "infer that appeals are restricted to those who plan new drainage works in 2025, with signed declarations and evidence of planned drainage works required to accompany applications". "This is very much at odds with what was briefed to us at both national and stakeholder meetings on this very emotive issue, and as I understand it, what has also been briefed to planners recently," Curran said. "It will cause consternation and annoy many farmers unless quickly clarified. 'We understood that soil samples; a planner's report; and geo-tagged photos may be required, but this is a curveball altogether." Curran said that all farmers must be given the opportunity to appeal the GAEC 2 status of individual parcels, "irrespective of whether lands were ever drained in the past or not, or whether new drainage is planned in 2025 or not". 'We have been getting calls from farmers for months now since indicative GAEC 2 maps were released saying there is no way individual parcels on their land are GAEC 2 and they will very much be contesting it," the rural development chair continued. "They have to be given that opportunity, and where backed by science and soil samples, have the GAEC-2 obligations removed." Curran said the IFA has engaged with DAFM seeking clarification on the matter, and will "continue to do until resolved".
