Sir, – Keep Ireland Open, the only national organisation representing recreational users of our countryside actively seeking legislation to provide reasonable access to our natural heritage, wish to respond to Pat Dunne, the chairman of the IFA Hill Farming Committee (Letters, October 24th).
He says that the walkers “could begin by recognising the value of discussions among all groups”.
This is rich coming from the IFA! We have assiduously attended meetings of Comhairle na Tuaithe (the Countryside Council) over many years and our suggestions to give legal rights to walkers, even over areas of rough grazing, have been shot down out of hand by the farm organisations.
We had great hopes about the listing of rights of way which is now mandatory. Many county councils have used various excuses to defer listing, while some quite blatantly ignore the legislation altogether; others have listed one or two which is mere tokenism.
Our Constitution is quite clear when it says that the common good must take precedence over private property rights.
Surely this is a classic example. With the general election approaching, we are lobbying the political parties to include the need for legislation in their manifestos.
– Your, etc,
ROGER GARLAND,
Chairman
Keep Ireland Open,
Dublin 14.