Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I welcome opportunity to contribute to this motion and I commend Deputy Flanagan and the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association on the tireless work they have put into this issue over the past 18 months and on the preparation of the motion before the House.

The proposals from the TCCA represent an enormous amount of work carried out by people in a voluntary capacity over the past 18 months. These are people who travelled the country talking to communities, hearing their concerns and, in some cases, providing the first information that many of them had about the implications for their bog. Only 15% to 20% of people throughout the country have been contacted about the intended designation of bogs. For example, in the case of one bog in the Lough Ree complex, when the TCCA came to the local turf cutters in October last year, it was the first time that they had any information on the designation of the bog as a special area of conservation, SAC.

This has resulted in a complete breakdown in trust throughout the country. Mr. Justice Quirke's report has recognised this situation. He has said: "What is undeniable is that there has been a breakdown of communication and a breakdown of trust between the relevant parties which may be difficult to restore." He goes on: "Trust must, however, be restored and I am of the opinion that the Peatlands Council can and should play a significant role in the restoration." This opportunity cannot be lost and it is the role of the Department now to ensure it is not lost.

In doing this, the judge has acknowledged the integrity of the turf cutters:

Those most affected by the restrictions are the turf cutting communities who for generations, and in some cases for centuries, have enjoyed ownership, property and turbary rights on the relevant bogs. It was made absolutely clear by the speakers who represented them that those communities comprise hardworking, decent, respectable and law abiding citizens of this State who have no intention or wish to break any Irish or European law ... [A]s a result of circumstances over which they have had no control and as a result of legal and other procedures into which they appear to have had little, if any, input, they are now at risk of acting unlawfully or failing to act lawfully.

He goes on: "I accept further that these communities have a genuine and sincere commitment to the preservation of the environmental integrity of the relevant bogs and many are prepared to cease cutting turf in order to accommodate that overriding objective."

The TCCA report has made an honest attempt to address many of the issues involved and I believe has come up with a workable solution to the difficulties which, if followed in the spirit of the Government amendment to the motion, will resolve what could be a very difficult situation. This solution would leave no one at risk of failing to act lawfully.

Surely the implementation of environmental legislation and the preservation of the environment should also have at its heart the people who live in the environment. Everyone supports the protection of the environment and people are as much part of the environment as the flora and fauna in the countryside. In many circles in the media and the environmental lobby, people in rural Ireland are represented as Neanderthals with no concern for preservation. The proposals from the TCCA show that with effort and concern for both people and the environment, a workable solution can be reached.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service's own figures have shown that in bogs where there has been no turf cutting, bogs have still declined and in others where cutting has continued, habitat has increased. Stopping turf cutting is not a silver bullet that will solve the very real pressures that bogs are under. Including people as part of the solutions is the way to ensure progress.

What has been really shown by this dispute is how the State has failed its citizens and the environment. There is only lip service given to consultation in this country. A number of individuals working voluntarily can travel around the country, consult communities, give people information and arrive at a solution, yet the State, with all its resources, cannot achieve this and cannot inform citizens about decisions that are affecting them. The Government must learn from this and ensure in the future that consultation is just that, not talking at or down to people and not presenting them with a done deal. There is nothing that will undermine environmental protection than the superior behaviour of the State.

Mr. Justice Quirke recommends that the Peatlands Council prepares a national plan for the raised bogs. The TCCA plan is a good starting point on that road. In a nutshell, the plan makes three recommendations: preserve 98% of the already designated bog, co-existence on 2% of the designated bogs and the creation of another compensatory habitat that would represent 5% of the acreage of the entire SACs. By working with communities this plan has been put together. By consultation it has been arrived at. There is a lesson here for the State. I only hope it is prepared to learn from it.

The Minister will propose an amendment to the motion and that amendment has the type of language that could solve this problem. The National Parks and Wildlife Service must live up to the sentiments in the amendment. Bord na Móna and Coillte are prepared to work with the Peatlands Council and be part of the solution. The Minister must make sure that sentiment is acted on and correct the gaps in consultation highlighted by this dispute. If volunteers can travel around and arrive at solutions, then surely the Department can do it too. The development of the plan for the bogs could and should help to develop a model of consultation that can be used in the future to ensure communities can have faith in the process.

There are no raised bogs in Donegal but there are plenty of blanket bogs. Blanket bog around the country will come under scrutiny in the near future, with many already in SACs. To avoid confrontation in the future, I urge the Government to use the model of consultation developed by the turf cutters and recognise that people should be at the centre of the environment.

In the current climate in the country, as we face into a referendum on the fiscal compact, a terrible thought strikes me. The need for the Government to have the referendum passed could be factoring into its response to the motion. How can the turf cutters be sure that this is not a ruse to ensure they vote the right way in the referendum? I urge the Minister to put on the record that as this process goes on, the referendum result will not impact on the work of finding a solution that is acceptable to the turf cutters. If the referendum is passed - and I hope it is not for many reasons - I hope the attitude of the Government to finding a solution will not change and that work will continue, with the partnership seen in the consultation so far with the TCCA and the Peatlands Council.

I commend the turf cutters on the work they have done and the proposals they have brought forward and I thank them for the opportunity to speak on the motion.

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