Mr. Seamus Boland:

Deputy Fitzmaurice is an authority on bogs and I would never say he is not. He knows them and has worked them. I know that for a fact. All I can say is that there is merit in what he is proposing. The problem I came across was twofold. Unfortunately for the Deputy's point of view, enough people said they did not believe a buffer zone that would work has been designed yet. That might be wrong but unfortunately, it was simply impossible for me to stand over a recommendation knowing that had been said.

The second point is that some people who knew we were doing this survey made it clear they would be worried about their areas if a bog was used in that way. I do not in any way dismiss the Deputy's suggestion as I have huge respect for his knowledge. I suggest that this particular recommendation could be followed up with that view in mind. At the moment, I do not have enough evidence to conclusively stand over it. Given that I could not get anyone else to do so either, I had to walk a bit back from it.