There was a frank exchange of views at a meeting organised to discuss the controversial EU Nature Restoration Law as farmers and Green party members met in Benner’s hotel last Wednesday. The law proposed by the European Commission to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change issues and the degraded state of rivers was described as “an ill-conceived document that was designed by urban environmentalist” by West Kerry farmer John Joe Macgearailt in a prepared statement that was applauded by farmers. John Joe raised serious concerns about the impact the proposed law would have on the agricultural community, the language and unique culture of the west of Ireland. “Is our country, and especially the west of Ireland, to become a large Jurrasic Park for tourists and rich urban people,” he said. “This will change our rich Gaeltacht rural culture that everyone enjoys when they come to West Kerry and throughout the western sea board. This law will make it even harder for our rural yout