Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Despite the notable lack of prominence given to environmental matters in the programme for Government, there was a promise to publish new legislation to de-designate 39 raised bogs in natural heritage areas and partially re-designate seven raised bogs. The legislation, as I understand it, is formulated in such a way as to enable turf cutters to move from more important bogs to less important bogs in terms of conservation. According to An Taisce, a series of such decisions in recent years treats science as capable of being bargained away, traded against or balanced against other factors. Does the Minister have any concerns about the potential environmental impact of the de-designation, as highlighted by An Taisce?

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