Delaying tactics by politicians are holding up pilot legislation that would lengthen the seasons for hedge-cutting and burning of vegetation to give better land management.

It is now unclear if burning will be allowed take place next March as planned or if this work will have to wait for the 1 May start date. This is despite the concessions being first announced a year ago.

“I am quite frustrated at the very slow pace of progress on the Heritage Bill in the Seanad during this term,” Minister for Heritage Heather Humphreys told the Irish Farmers Journal this week. “It took four hours to get through one amendment on the bill due to delay tactics being used by some senators.”

The two measures on hedge-cutting and burning are designed to introduce a limited amount of flexibility to help with land management.