Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I commend Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and all others associated with tabling this motion tonight. This motion reflects the genuine and continued commitment of rural Deputies to addressing issues affecting rural Ireland. I support this motion and the proposals made by the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, TCCA, in regard to the accommodation of turbary rights with the need to protect the natural habitat.

This motion stresses the need to balance conservation as laid down in directives with the traditional right of people to utilise local natural resources, as they have done for a long time without causing serious environmental damage. Key to all of this, and indeed other issues which are currently the cause of great concern in rural communities, is that faceless bureaucrats, often not even resident in or familiar with any part of this country, are laying down decrees with regard to important issues. I have witnessed this many times before, including in regard to the fishing communities where a traditional way of life and a source of great potential for development has been restricted and, some would argue, condemned to slow death by the surrender of control to bureaucrats who are not interested in the needs of fishing communities and may in fact be outright hostile to them. The Minister needs no reminding of what happened to drift salmon in our constituency and the consequences in that regard.

The Minister will be aware of the anger that this has been generated in relation to the Moanveanlagh raised bog outside Listowel. It is the only bog in Kerry to which the ban is to be applied. However, turf cutters there have insisted they will not be prevented from cutting turf after 1 April. The Minister referred earlier to ongoing pickets outside his constituency office. Many of those picketing are personal friends of the Minister, which gives some indication of how deeply angry people are about this. Many of them are, perhaps, Fine Gael supporters.

The point has been made by the Kerry Turf Cutters Association that the State has refused to engage with them despite that they have come up with detailed and imaginative proposals which they believe form the basis of a solution, taking into account the various concerns and interests. This is again illustrative of the lack of engagement with communities. I am pleased to note that the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, has welcomed the association's proposals on relocation claims and has directed his officials to study them .

I welcome the Minister's acceptance of the Qurike report on the national plan. This matter can only be resolved by people sitting down together to find a solution which takes into account the rights of people involved in this area for many years. This matter can be resolved. The Minister has the power to do it.

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