Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The witnesses need to put several matters into context. Dr. Florence Renou-Wilson talked about blanket bogs. She has to get one thing clear in her head. It is private property. Has she a right to go on to somebody’s private property?

In fairness to Mr. Brian Lucas and the NPWS. they have drawn up a management plan on re-wetting. When people heard about re-wetting, they thought the water would be run down. It is not. They have consulted in various areas. I had many a row with them but they consulted people in affected areas. If there are any problems, they have addressed them.

What are the 53 raised bog SACs? They were brought in under the habitats directive. They were brought in to save an amount of bog because the rest of Europe had cut theirs. It was not brought in for the climate or saving tonnes of anything. There is no part of climate written into it. Am I correct in that?