Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has put in place more resources and greater effort to resolve the issue of protecting Ireland's raised bog special areas of conservation than any Government which went before. This includes the establishment of a substantial compensation scheme of which the vast majority of active cutters have availed. More than €10 million has been paid out by the Government. The Peatlands Council was established to facilitate the views of all stakeholders, and we have a comprehensive policy framework, including a draft national peatlands strategy and a draft national raised bog SAC management plan. Once finalised, these will give certainty to all stakeholders about the Government's views on the future of our peatlands and how our SAC raised bogs are to be managed. There is no denying the complexity of the issues involved. Issues can only be resolved by working together within the law and not outside it.

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