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

I thank Deputy Naughten for his contribution. Roscommon is particularly affected by this issue, and I know from my experience of visiting that county that it is a very emotive subject there. Along with Deputies Naughten and Flanagan and the chairman of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, Mick Fitzmaurice, I travelled over that area in a helicopter last year and was given a bird's eye view of what was happening on the ground as well as an idea of the extent of raised bogs in Galway and Roscommon.

The de-designation of small areas around the country will be a matter for the Commission. The Government cannot de-designate. This is mentioned in Deputy Flanagan's motion which will be moved this evening, and is also mentioned in the amendment. I will go into more detail later. Obviously, we could go back to the Commission with any proposal, but we want to exhaust every other alternative first.

The Deputy mentioned that for the first time ever there has been real engagement. The Government, and the country, are fortunate that Conor Skehan has taken over as chairman of the Peatlands Council. I acknowledge here that he has given ten months of his life to this issue, free to the State, which is a considerable contribution. I hope for his sake that because of these deliberations and the amount of work he has put in, we can obtain a resolution.

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