Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

In the past, and in the 20 years since we gave this commitment, the measure suggested by the Deputy might have been discussed. However, at this stage the Commission is very clear about what it wants us to do. It wants us to close the 53 bogs. If we do not do that and if there is cutting on those bogs next February, the Commission will impose an injunction on us. The Commission has been quite clear in that regard. That requirement was repeated last Tuesday in the Petitions Commission by Commissioner Potocnik. That is the stark reality.

Meanwhile, the Government has put in place the National Peatlands Council. We also put in place a reasonable level of compensation of €1,000 per year, index-linked, for 15 years. If that arrangement does not suit people, the Peatlands Council has suggested that they be supplied with fuel and we have decided to provide people who can no longer cut turf with 10 tonnes of turf, whereas the average household's normal requirement is 7 tonnes. It is a generous provision. We are also looking for alternative bogs on a daily basis. A solution has been found in Deputy Kitt's constituency and it would be important if he could support it in every way possible alongside Deputy Connaughton.

A good solution was found in Clara bog in County Offaly, which is being turned into a tourist attraction with an interpretative centre. To counties like Kildare, Roscommon and Galway, it can act as an example of the tourism potential of raised closed bogs that are fully intact, especially given their appeal to Europeans. Our bogs resonate with the Dutch and Germans in particular, who have a genuine interest in Ireland's peatlands to the extent that they purchased some of them. Holland is trying to grow bogs at great expense. Ireland is being asked to conserve 2% of our boglands, representing just 1% of our original boglands. The EU believes it is a reasonable request, but people will be inconvenienced and I am trying to look after them as best I can.

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