Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

At that stage, maybe we will have a logical debate on them in committee. I mentioned this in the Oireachtas committee the week before last, I will also publish draft and management guidelines relating to planning to ensure consistency in planning authorities.

That I am bringing forward this legislation on peat extraction, demonstrates my willingness to meet the European Commission's concerns on Ireland's performance in the environmental area, a point touched on by Deputy Cuffe. This change in natural heritage areas, NHAs, will meet the outstanding concerns of the EU Commission and the Court of Justice. Deputy Gilmore asked what has changed. The reality is that the Commission has been in continuous contact with us on this issue. It is anxious that we should ensure that planning authorities have the possibility of stepping in to halt industrial scale peat extraction where that is necessary. I remind Deputies that we are talking about peat extraction in excess of 10 hectares, which is 24.71 acres. That is certainly not a year's supply for a farmer.

Deputy Naughten raised the issue of forestry, which is not dealt with in these regulations. Telecommunications masts were dealt with by Deputy Gilmore, who again shows signs of senility in this matter, because these issues were dealt with in the 2001 regulations and discussed at some length. I contributed to the discussions. As a spokesman on environmental policy I am amazed that Deputy Gilmore appears not to be aware that masts now require planning permission. Matters like this——

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