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

It is simply not true the majority of turf cutters continue to break the law. We received 2,400 applications for compensation or relocation or for the supply of turf. To date, 1,461 payments have been made, 58 deliveries have been made and there is general compliance across the country. I thank many Deputies in this House for encouraging their neighbours to comply with the law. I recognise that and sincerely thank those who have complied with the law and prevent the levying of huge fines on the country.

I represented this Parliament exactly as was set out in the motion passed here. I do not have time to read out the motion but it was clear from Justice Quirke's remarks at the forum that we would go to Europe to look for permission to draw up a national plan for 53 raised bogs, with the possibility of cutting turf in a small number of these bogs where relocation was not possible. That is exactly what I did.

The first I heard of the plan the Deputy referred to was in Rindoon in Roscommon, when Deputy Ming Flanagan handed me a proposal that he subsequently e-mailed to the Commission and which the Commission refers to in its reply in the European Parliament. That is the process. I was never aware of that plan until it was handed to me. If anything, in the past 16 months I have been totally up front with the turf cutters, contractors and everyone concerned with the entire challenge for the country. I have met hundreds of people and will continue to meet people. It is not too late. I want to engage with the TCCA, as I did at the beginning, so my door is still open to the association and I would like it to engage.

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