Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I want to share a minute of my time with Deputy Damien English, with the agreement of the House.

I mean no disrespect to my constituency colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt, but I am very disappointed that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is not here. Based on what I have heard previously in this House and what I expect to hear tonight, my view is that we are signing the death warrant for one of the most traditional practices Ireland has ever known, the cutting of turf on 32 raised bogs across the country, which will affect thousands of turf cutters.

I received an answer to a Dáil question recently from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and what he is up to is nothing short of astounding. I will paraphrase it as quickly as I can. He said he was conscious of the recent increases in energy costs, but the reason for the derogation was to allow domestic cutters a reasonable time to find alternative sources of fuel. Peat was an honourable and noble source as well as a valuable habitat, which we were required to protect, but he said the derogation would expire at the end of this year. Where does the Minister think we will get an alternative supply? Where does the Minister of State think it is?

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