Irish Wildlife Trust calls on Minister Coveney to deny single farm payments to those found responsible for illegal burning

Reports from all over Ireland show that the annual bonfire of our countryside is well underway. This illegal practice is resulting in the massive degradation of upland habitats and is driving species to extinction. While illegal burning technically threatens a land owner’s single farm payment the IWT believes that this is not routinely enforced. Apart from the massive damage that uncontrolled fires cause to wildlife they also pollute water, air and threaten property. The IWT is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, to condemn these fires and to confirm that cross-compliance measures will be strictly enforced.