James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to discuss a matter of urgent national and regional importance, namely, the threat to Ireland's habitats and species, given that only 7% of habitats examined in a study published this week on the status of EU protected habitats and species in Ireland were found to be in good condition, whereas 46% were described as inadequate and 47% as bad; and the knock-on threat of remedial action to the livelihoods of turf cutters, particularly in the midlands, the economic welfare of whom must be weighed against the rapid disappearance of raised bogs, which have decreased by 35% in the past ten years because of the Government's failure to adequately preserve traditional turf cutting methods.

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