Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner and the Chairman. One of the main reasons I am pleased to see the Commissioner here today is that as well as being a Member of our Parliament I am also the public relations officer of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association. We are keen to see a resolution to this issue. I believe the Commissioner is aware of the proposals we put forward earlier in the year. As far as the turf cutters are concerned these are the only proposals that have been put on the table in the 15 years since 1997, when the habitats directive was transposed into Irish law.

The Commissioner stated that he believed only 4% of our bogs are affected. The reality is that some 43% of privately owned bogs are affected. It is important to point out that the turf cutters have no problem with conservation. The plan we have put together is supported by the Dáil and would create a situation where 98% of the special areas of conservation would never again have turf cut in them. This is being achieved by serious compromise. For example, as part of these proposals I would move from the bog that my family has cut for more than 100 years to a neighbouring bog that our organisation has identified.

The problem is that various Government bodies have been charged with solving this issue. Had it been tackled correctly in the first place, perhaps by dealing with four bogs per year during the past 15 years, we would have a solution by now. I put it to the Commissioner that we have never been closer to a solution but my fear is that because we want a solution immediately, we will end up not finding any solution at all. The proposals we have put forward have also been put into an implementation plan. It would result in a situation whereby all of these bogs would have solutions up to four or five years quicker than the national raised bog special area of conservation management plan. Our proposals would work because turf cutters would be able to continue to cut turf on these bogs while a solution was being found and, bit by bit, turf cutting would be phased out. One of the main things that must be achieved is that certain boundaries need to be changed in the special areas of conservation. In addition a small number of bogs must be designated out of the special area of conservation system. However, this would mean 98% of these bogs would be preserved forever.

We have a double opportunity now because the court cases are in abeyance. I have read several articles and it seems the Commissioner's name is well known throughout rural Ireland, hopefully for positive reasons. I have read that there have been serious threats of court cases but that they are in abeyance for now. This, coupled with the fact that we will have the European Union Council Presidency, presents us with an opportunity. In order to grab this opportunity it is best to tell the Commissioner the truth and the whole truth about what exactly is happening. I understand that court cases have been held off because the Commissioner and the Commission understand that turf cutting has somehow stopped. The reality is that of the 29 bog complexes cut last year, some 26 were cut this year. All 29 would have been cut but for the fact that we had really bad weather conditions and people could not go into the bogs. To find a solution we need to deal with the truth as a starting point. If the Commissioner wishes to find a solution he cannot go along with the idea that only 11 of the bogs were cut when in fact 26 were cut. I have been to almost all of them since they were cut.

We have an opportunity between now and the next turf cutting season in April. No one wants to go through what those involved went through this year. I hope it is not lost on the Commissioner that this took place in the year when the European Union won the Nobel peace prize. Turf cutters have not sought problems; the last thing they want is problems. They are simple people who want a simple life – some of us are more complicated. What happened this year cannot happen again. We won the peace prize but in the same year turf cutters were faced with 24 police vehicles converging on one particular bog with 60 members of the police, 12 of whom were armed. Police forces are armed in other countries but it is most unusual to see armed police anywhere in Ireland. We do not need them because we are peaceful people. In the same year we won the peace prize, turf cutters were confronted with armed police and members of the Air Corps flying over to check out what they were doing. The irony of it all is a bit much for people to take. I appeal to the Commissioner to listen to the proposals of the turf cutters because there is a solution in them.

People may not believe it and I do not care what they say but I am an environmentalist. I come at this problem from the perspective of the son of a turf cutter and someone who had food because of turf. I also come at it from the perspective of someone who realises the environment needs to be protected. I have two children and their future is secure only if the environment is protected. This goes wider than turf cutting. If the Commission wants people to engage on environmentalism then it must discuss the matter with them carefully and explain what it is doing. Otherwise people will be spooked, and this has been the case.

The Commissioner referred to subsidiarity. My understanding of subsidiarity is that one does things from the bottom up. The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association has done this. We followed these principles, although some members of our organisation do not like the European Union. We spoke in 37 villages throughout the country and we listened to people. We heard what they wanted. We explained our position to them but we were not popular when we went to these meetings initially. We explained that best thing people could do was probably to move out of the bog, if that was feasible. Anyone who could do that has been willing to do that. One thing that came across as part of this negotiation and consultation, this purest example of subsidiarity, was that unless everyone was catered for, no one was prepared to move.

We have an opportunity. I hope it can be taken. We are always willing to talk. We always have engaged. We met Mr. Alan Seatter and Mr. Micheál Ó Briain earlier in the year. I think they were impressed with what we said. I do not know. We cannot really make that call, but we left with the impression that they saw a bit of hope. That hope is still there. We are willing to engage and I hope the Commission and the Government can do the same.

It will break my heart if we have to go through what we did this year again next year. We do not want the bad feeling that now exists. We want to solve this problem. After this meeting, I will give the Commissioner a copy of our proposals. They are not perfect but they are as close to perfect as we are going to get.

I am not trying to have a go at the Government when I say the national raised bog special areas of conservation management plan cannot work. It does not allow for the de-designation of national heritage area bogs so that our proposals that relocation take place can actually happen. The plan would mean there would be nowhere to move to. Every road out of the town where I live leads to a bog that is designated, is on the way to being designated or else is of no use to turf cutters.

We are looking for a solution. I hope the presence of the Commissioner will help us achieve that. My organisation would love to have met the Commissioner in person to explain to him what we are at. I have taken this opportunity and I hope I have not hogged too much of the meeting.