The Minister for Arts, Heritage and Rural Affairs has been slammed following reports she is to extend the hedge cutting season to include August.

The Green Party accused Minister Heather Humphreys of showing "blatant disregard" for wildlife and allow controlled burning in mountainous areas in March, despite advice from her Department against doing so.

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Green Party Deputy Leader and TD for Dublin Rathdown, Catherine Martin, said: "This is the second occasion the Minister has given in to vested interests, following her decision to de-designate areas of bogs.

"It's well known that the IFA have lobbied hard in favour of these changes. It is unbelievable that that the Minister wants to go ahead with these changes, in face of expert advice against doing so, and despite the harm that would be done to Irish wildlife.

"We're calling on the Minister to protect Irish habitats, and abandon plans to implement these changes."

(CD/JP)