Recent gorse fires across Kerry, Cork and other parts of the country are partly the result of a CAP and Government policy that has “neglected” upland farmers, Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns has claimed.

“The reality of the matter is that Government agricultural policy and parts of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are geared towards certain types of farming, and have neglected the needs of upland farmers.

“Only last week in the Dáil, the Opposition were calling on the Minister to oppose changes to the new CAP, which would see the exclusion of rich carbon soils, including uplands and drained peatlands, from basic payments,” Cairns said.

I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture to ensure the sustainable protection of uplands in the CAP negotiations

She outlined that the intentional lighting of fires by farmers needed to be addressed and more ambitious schemes needed to be put in place to reward farmers for maintaining habitats rather than clearing them in order to qualify for payments.

“Ultimately, this is a cross-departmental issue which requires greater focus and commitment from the Government.

“I am calling on the Minister for Agriculture to ensure the sustainable protection of uplands in the CAP negotiations,” she stated.