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IFA Deputy President Eddie Downey has delivered a strong warning to local His warning follows the threat from Kilkenny County Council to impose fines of up to €130,000 on landowners after rubbish dumped by passers-by was discovered in roadside ditches and fields. “Farmers are very annoyed that they are being scapegoated. Litter creates an unsightly mess and can cause injury to livestock. This is an attempt by Kilkenny County Council to abdicate its own responsibility for keeping the countryside clean and stopping the proliferation of littering by unthinking members of the public.” He said, “IFA has run a number of campaigns highlighting the problems of litter in the countryside. While we will continue to play our part, farmers cannot be held liable and it is the responsibility of local authorities to keep the countryside free of litter.” Eddie Downey said local authorities would be better served using their resources to track down those guilty of the littering and impose the fines on them. “Landowners who received this letter are flabbergasted. They have been plagued by persistent littering along the roadside and into their fields.” He called on the local authority to remove immediately the threat of fines and a prosecution and he urged the Environment Minister Phil Hogan to review the legislation and direct local authorities to concentrate their efforts on cleaning up the countryside.
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Sunday, 24 April 2011 10:12
