Ragwort also known as Buchalans are highly poisonous and dead and dying ragwort are especially appetising to livestock, because of their increased sugar content but they are highly poisonous to animals and humans.
Cllr Martin says "Ragwort is controlled under the Noxious Weeds Act, 1936 which make it an offence not to prevent the spread of certain weeds, including ragwort and the owner, occupier, user or manager of lands on which these weeds are growing is liable, upon conviction, to be fined. This includes local authorities and private developers, landowners and even individual householders."
Increasing incidence of ragwort has been blamed on increased farming set-a-side and reduced vegetation management by local authorities. Ragwort, Thistle, Dock, Common Barberry, Male Wild Hop and Spring Wild Oat are scheduled as noxious weeds under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936.
According to Cllr Martin "Ragwort, thistle and dock are particularly undesirable because their seeds are widely scattered about and infect neighbouring fields and farms and this means where these weeds are not attended to they can spread and spread.
"It is time that the NRA, local authorities, farmers and landowners get serious on this issue. Every year the Dept of Agriculture runs a campaign specially targeted at the NRA and local authorities but they don't seem to take their responsibilities seriously.
"Any member of the Garda Síochána or any authorised inspector may at all reasonable times enter any farm or land to see if any noxious weeds are growing on the land so maybe its time we saw the Act being upheld in court. Its time for action.
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