The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) is seeking an extension to the hedge cutting deadline due to the impact of Storm Éowyn.

The group has written to relevant government ministers and TDs seeking support to move the deadline back to March 17, 2025.

Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of vegetation growing on “any land not then cultivated” is banned between March 1 and August 31 annually.

The FCI said that Storm Éowyn has "caused major disruption to work and has exacerbated the need for hedge cutting to be done on the grounds of safety".

"We urge the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government to give us a reply on the matter as soon as possible," the association said.

The FCI noted that Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice had echoed its sentiments when he spoke in the Dáil last week.

Deputy Fitzmaurice said that “over the last few weeks the people of the west, the north west and the midlands have suffered fair torture with the storm”.

The TD appealed to the government to “look at giving a two-week period now for those people who had to go there to help during the storm to allow them to help the farming community”.

The FCI appealed to the government to support Deputy Fitzmaurice on this proposal.

"We acknowledge that these policies are put in place to protect wildlife and biodiversity, but we feel a special exemption is necessary given the disruption Storm Éowyn has caused to rural communities across the country," the FCI said.