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

I certainly accepted the motion to which Deputy Troy refers and which stated that the Government should "engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan to the Commission as a matter of urgency". That was the intention behind the motion, that is what I accepted and that is what I have done. The Commission has engaged with us and is going to provide us with services. This is both a major development and a major departure.

As the Deputy is aware, his party did absolutely nothing in respect of this matter for ten or 12 years.

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