Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

This is a very serious issue as people in the midlands and on the west coast where there is bogland have discovered that they will be prevented from non-commercial turf cutting, which they have been used to for generations. It is not something we should throw out without proper consultation, or stakeholders being involved in the solution rather than having a diktat from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

No derogation was given to Ireland under the EU habitats directive because a blind eye was turned to it for political reasons. In the meantime there was no proper consultation to seek a solution to include people who are the custodians of the environment, particularly those involved in agriculture, the land or turf cutting. They are the people who have nurtured the environment over the years and they do not need the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or the Minister to sanction by diktat 32 boglands, as he did last Saturday under the EU habitats directive, to make them conform.

We need meaningful consultation and engagement. Perhaps we could have a pilot scheme on one bog where stakeholders could come to an agreement on a model for conservation that could be used on other boglands to comply with the outcome of negotiations on the EU habitats directive, and mediation if necessary. Down through the years, these people have been involved in turf cutting for non-commercial domestic fuel. We do not hear anything about the blanket banning of Bord na Móna from bogs as a conservation measure. Under the EU habitats directive, small householders traditionally involved in turf cutting are being blamed for the lack of conservation.

I call on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, through the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, to get meaningful negotiations under way, and ensure we have a pilot programme rather than the blanket ban, which is coming down the tracks and which was started last Friday by the Minister.

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