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

First, that is completely inaccurate. I acknowledge this is coming from a second source and not from Deputy Flanagan but it is absolutely and totally inaccurate. I was invited to a public meeting on Moanveanlagh bog, which up to 100 people may have attended and I was very upfront with them. I was very truthful to them just as I have been from the outset of this entire discussion.

Some people do not seem to be able to understand the truth, what is accurate and so forth. I was very clear with them about the 53 raised bogs, that the consultants were anxious to come down and consult them - but they did not accept that proposal - that we were reviewing the natural heritage areas, NHAs, and that I was coming up with conclusions. I was very clear on this and that turf-cutting on all other bogs would continue.

Nobody ever at any stage said that this was the end of turf-cutting in this country. When Deputy Flanagan is addressing public meetings perhaps it is convenient for him to say that to stir up emotions and so forth but what I said was very clear. We are currently considering three strategies, as the Deputy demanded in a motion tabled in this House. I am doing exactly what he asked for, namely, we would draw up a strategy for the 53 raised bogs with a view to perhaps allowing cutting in a few of them and to allow for restoration as called for in the Deputy's motion. The programme for Government gave a commitment that we would review the NHAs and move towards preparing a management plan for those bogs and that review is coming to a conclusion. The Deputy's organisation is a member of the Peatlands Council and his organisation agreed and signed up to stop cutting turf in June 2011 but then it withdrew from that in September and it has not engaged since. I appeal to the Deputy as public relations officer of the TCCA to ask it re-engage in this process.

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