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You are > Home > Nappy-shy jarveys lose public support
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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Nappy-shy jarveys lose public support
BY DONAL HICKEY
JUDGE Liam McKechnie, of the High Court, probably knows few, if any, people in Killarney.
But his ruling in the horse dung case brought by some local jarveys against the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is in accord with public opinion in the area.
Public opinion, however, had no bearing on the judge’s decision which was based on points of law and the fact that the NPWS has a duty to manage the park for the enjoyment of everyone.
In a very clear cut decision, he held against the jarveys on all points. Interestingly, Judge McKechnie remarked that people are now much more environmentallyaware. In this context, they are no longer prepared to tolerate the fouling of their streets and parks.
It’s 2010 and the world has moved on.
Since last October, people have become accustomed to walking in Killarney National Park without having to pirouette and tip-toe around the horse dung. And they are not going to allow old ways to return.
Since the ruling last Thursday, I haven’t met one person in Killarney – with the exception of the jarvey fraternity – who felt the High Court had made the wrong decision.
People are supporting the National Park authorities and are now looking to Killarney Town Council to, at last, do its duty as the licensing authority for jarveys operating out of the town.
The NPWS has led on this vexed issue by having the courage and sense of public duty to tackle it head-on, while the council has failed to do so over many years.
The irony is that the council has been doing tremendous work to improve the overall appearance of Killarney and has brought Killarney to within a few marks of winning the tidy towns competition.
Yet, the same council allows horse dung to litter the streets. What a contradiction! Senator Paul Coghlan, ever the peace-maker, has made a plea to jarveys and the NPWS to sit down the talk through their differences.
But, the hand of the NPWS has been greatly strengthened by the High Court and it’s impossible to see them compromising now.
The jarveys are divided and, sooner or later, some will break ranks and will start to use dung catchers, or some such devices.
Meanwhile, they will continue to lose money for as long they are locked out of the national park and, with an appeal to the Supreme Court in what is becoming a very expensive law case, the remainder of the season looks like being written off.
While some jarveys think everyone is against them, nobody wants to deprive them of their right to earn a living. But everyone else also has the right to use and enjoy the national park.
The NPWS, whose authority to manage the park now has the endorsement of the High Court, says the jarveys are welcome to return, once they agree to use dung catchers. No ifs or buts there.
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