John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I would be happy to investigate the claims made by the Deputy. However, the national parks and wildlife service, NPWS, is clear as to what is required. The NPWS liaises, at all times, with the Commission, which is adamant that we have overstepped the mark to a major degree and that we have been given a great deal of latitude. The cessation to which I referred earlier was unilaterally declared by Ireland, which, as such, was taking a liberty in making such a declaration.

We are facing into a difficult situation. Perhaps the Deputy might put his claims to the interdepartmental group in order that they might be examined and their validity or otherwise established. Claims and counter-claims have been made and there is a need to establish the actual facts. As already stated, the NPWS has made it clear that there has been a sharp deterioration in the quality of our raised bogs, which, as far as it is concerned, are disappearing at an alarming rate.

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