INHFA president Colm O’Donnell. \ Brian Farrell
Since the late 1990s farmers have lost control of their lands as the EU and Irish state has effectively claimed squatters’ rights on their land through SAC and SPA designations, INHFA president Colm O’Donnell has said.
“Through the 38 actions requiring consent on these lands, farmers are sidelined to the role of passive onlookers through the squatting actions of our State as applied through the National Parks and Wildlife Service,” he said.
The INHFA said these actions have failed for both the farmer and the environment as detailed by an NPWS report outlining how 92% of these habitats have stagnated or regressed while under their control.