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

This is a legal matter governed by European and Irish law. It is obvious Deputy Flanagan has no respect for that law; otherwise, he would not be promoting that people break that law. More has been achieved in the past two years than was achieved in the previous 17 years and to which the Deputy referred. We must do what the European Commission and the European Union has told us to do otherwise we face being fined. Ireland will also suffer reputational damage and face a fine of €25,000 a day, amounting to €9 million every year. We accepted this law and it was transposed into Irish law. Deputy Flanagan wants to break that law. It is not acceptable that he is encouraging people to break that law. It is now in the hands of the Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is out of our hands. People will be prosecuted. That is the way the law operates in this country. Deputy Flanagan wants more people to break that law so that they, in turn, will be prosecuted. This is a complicated process. Progress has been made on four bogs.

Last year, this House agreed a motion. I went to the Commission with that proposal and it was accepted. We have appointed RPS consultants at immense cost to the State. I appeal to everyone concerned. It is obvious that Deputy Flanagan has no intention of co-operating with these people and to give this process a chance. That is all I ask everyone to do.

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