Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

I thank the Minister. I understand that apart from the Air Corps flying unit another unit has been hired from O'Connor's in Weston Airport and that a black helicopter has been used also.

I do not consider the Minister to be someone who would be eager to waste resources. Given that most people accept the turf will probably be cut in any case, it is probably a waste of money on the part of the State to try to police the issue. It seems we do not have enough money to keep all our Garda stations open. I recently spoke to gardaí in Wexford where several stations have been closed and the number of squad cars in the fleet has been cut. These measures are having a highly damaging effect on the morale of gardaí in the area. At a time of such scarce resources, it is disappointing the Government sees fit to harass innocent rural people who are availing of their inalienable right to cut turf.

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