Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

There is an issue here, and potentially a legislative one. That is why we should keep the laws under review. We will engage constructively on the Deputy's Bill, and on any views from the Minister for justice, the Garda and others around the law. There is also an issue of enforcement because we are seeing - I am certainly hearing it more and more - attacks on sheep and the likes. There is a sense that sometimes this is being done to intimidate people to access their land.
We all live in the same country and we try to share this land. We all try to get on with our business in a respectful way. We want people to be able to go out and enjoy the countryside, to walk and to cycle. We want kids to enjoy the fresh air and explore the beauties of our country in all weather. We need to provide more safe and secure ways to do that by putting in proper walkways and proper routes in partnership with farmers and working with local authorities. Alongside that, we need to take a tougher approach when people do not respect the laws and trespass in a way that causes significant distress. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, to revert to the Deputy directly.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22