Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy raised this question because he has heard about this, as have I. What was being misrepresented was that the ten year exemption is up and that the blanket bog and special areas of conservation issue comes into play. This does not mean people will not be able to pursue their turbary rights which are not affected by special areas of conservation. Perhaps opponents of the treaty feel people should forget about all of these directives and do as they wish.

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