Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The problem is that once we engage with such consultants, they say "We have consulted with you", regardless of what we say to them. To go back, the Minister has not solved the initial problem and to be moving on to a later stage does not make any sense. The Minister may tell the European Commission that a certain number of the bogs are solved but we know that is factually incorrect.

I do not know who is misleading who here, but Clara bog is held high as some sort of example of how we can find a solution. The reality is that everyone in Clara bog was not satisfied, and the fact the Minister is now talking about flooding or re-wetting - call it what he wants - of Clara bog means even more people are now up in arms about it. It is obvious that the situation in bogs like Clara is not resolved or is the Minister suggesting the situation in bogs such as Clara is resolved? If that is the case, someone is not telling us the truth. The people on the ground are telling us the situation is not resolved. If it is not resolved, the Minister certainly cannot move on to the next stage of flooding people's lands and potentially causing very dangerous consequences down the line, with no indemnity for the bog owners who signed up to this.

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