Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I commend my colleague, Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, for bringing the motion before the House. This is a sensitive issue, one that would not have arisen if Departments and previous Governments had listened to people on the ground. Having worked on it for five or six years, a little over a year ago I addressed a meeting in the Hodson Bay hotel in Athlone at which I said I would sign my name in blood to ensure everything possible would be done to address the needs and concerns of turf cutters in the light of the restrictions imposed by the European Union. I have honoured that intention and will continue to fight hard to ensure a workable solution is found which meets the satisfaction of turf cutters. That is what co-operation is about.

We said, working with all stakeholders, we would set up an independent Peatlands Council, under the supervision of Mr. Conor Skehan who has done an amazing job in working with all those involved in turf cutting to try to ensure their concerns are brought to the table. The Europeand Union and the previous Government were inflexible. Departmental officials showed scant interest for the concerns of turf cutters. Last July when we were worried that fines would issue from the European Union, I said at a parliamentary party meeting that we should bypass the officials in the Department and go directly to Brussels. I thank those who supported me in making that call. We received support from strange circles. I thank Deputy Peter Mathews, the Deputy for Dublin South, for supporting us in that move.

I travelled to Brussels with Mr. Skehan and Deputies Paul Connaughton and Martin Heydon. It was horrifying, when we mentioned a ten year derogation to Mr. Potocnik, to hear him say there was no such derogation. How could a Government have stated there was a derogation when there was none? The actions of the Friends of the Irish Environment group have been corrosive in this situation. When we went to Brussels, we were shown a file sent by this group stating that turf cutting should not continue. There was nothing in that file from Government or anyone else stating that turf cutting should continue. Who are the Friends of the Irish Environment? Whom does this group represent? It does not represent me or the people on the ground.

I have not shied away from attempting to ensure those most affected will be financially compensated. I went to the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, over a month ago and told him that the €1,000 per annum compensation over 15 years was not enough. I am delighted that the Minister ceded to my request to increase that €1,000 to €1,500 per annum. I thank him for the work he has done in this area. I also thank the Taoiseach for his huge interest in this difficult situation. I will continue to work in government to ensure that turf cutters rights are protected. We are not fools. We will protect the environment and will ensure that people working together get along. I thank everyone for working together in trying to resolve this difficult situation.

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