Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond to the Vice Chairman's query and to Senator Ó Clochartaigh's question about the national plan for raised bogs. We are doing preliminary work on that at the moment. Local aspects of the matter are being considered. Obviously, we would love to engage with the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association. As members of the committee will be aware, the association left the Peatlands Council last year. It is important for the association to come back into the council. When Deputy Luke Flanagan and others tabled a motion in the Dáil calling for a national plan on raised bogs, I accepted the motion and took the substance of what was called for in the motion to the Commissioner in Europe. The Commissioner accepted that. The motion called for a plan to be drawn up for the 53 raised bogs in special areas of conservation and for an accommodation to be found in the cases of a small number of bogs where there are no relocation possibilities. That is exactly what this plan will be pursuing. It will be in the spirit of what was accepted by the Commissioner last year. That is exactly what was proposed in the Dáil at that time. It is there. The motion is there. I accepted that motion. I took the spirit of that motion to Europe and it was accepted by the Commissioner. This process is happening with regard to raised bog special areas of conservation.

Both parties in government gave a commitment in the programme for Government to examine the management structure of natural heritage areas with a view to finding an alternative approach. The derogation that applies to natural heritage areas will not expire until 2014. We have another year in which to complete the review we are carrying out at the moment. The Peatlands Council is examining the matter at present. The difference between special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas is that special areas of conservation are designated by Europe whereas natural heritage areas are designated under national law. Obviously, we have some flexibility with regard to natural heritage areas. In the programme for Government, we promised to review natural heritage areas and examine different approaches. I have explained the difference between the two issues that are arising at this time. I thank the Vice Chairman, Deputy McLellan and Senator Ó Murchú for staying for the duration of this session. I congratulate them on their endurance and patience.