A countryside council is to be set up by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív to address the growing difficulties which have arisen between hillwalkers and farmers.
The Minister announced the establishment of the council, to be called Comhairle na Tuaithe, when he addressed an Irish Farmers Association meeting in Mallow, Co Cork last night.
The Minister said that the council would be set up under the auspices of his department.
Its aims would be largely in line with the proposals of the Consultation Group on Waymarked Ways which he had set up last April.
This group, which has tourism, farming and recreational representatives, had suggested the establishment of such a council which would develop a national Countryside Recreational Strategy and would be a mediator if and when any conflicts cropped up.
The new council will be based on the exiting consultation group but will also have Governmental and environmental representatives on it should the Minister accept all of its recommendations.
The Minister also announced that he intended to make provision for maintenance of waymarked or approved locally agreed walks to be included as rural services for the purpose of the new Rural Social Scheme.
He also said that he would be allocating up to €40,000 to enable some initial research, evaluation and pilot actions of Comhairle an Tuaithe to be undertaken by a research/development officer.
Making the announcement, the Minister said he fully accepted that farmers have rights to their land.
He also understood that there were concerns regarding issues such as insurance, accidents, etc.
"However in the exercise of their rights, and without prejudicing them, I would ask farmers to look, not only at their own individual good, but also at the good of the community in which they live.
"Similarly, I would say to the tourist interests, they must see farmers as partners and work in harmony and agreement with them," he said
"Some groups have advocated changing the law, allowing greater access to land, without the agreement of farmers as a solution to the problem.
"I reject this, out of hand, as the way to go, as I believe no law can work that does not have the consent of the vast majority of reasonable people in society," he said.
"I would also, however, say that an over-emphasis on individual rights, without any recognition of the greater good of society, will lead to us all being losers," the Minister said.