Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. It was pretty much the reply I had expected. To be honest, I do not agree. The parcel is well understood, everyone knows what it is and it is there for several other schemes, but in GAEC 8 and GAEC 9 relating to Natura 2000 lands, for example, one can red-line out the area. There is no reason that cannot be done when it comes to peatlands as well. There is no reason we cannot come up with a solution to designate the peatlands only and leave the mineral-rich soils apart from them.

This is going to have a detrimental effect on people, particularly those on smaller holdings. Consider the farmer who has 25 ha or 30 ha and 50% of that is peatland. All of that is designated. Another farmer, perhaps in another part of the country where there are much larger holdings, could have a larger portion that is peatland and yet none of it would be designated as peatland because the farmer has a larger portion of mineral-rich soils. A scheme needs to be brought in that will protect the carbon-rich soils without creating a situation where we disenfranchise farmers on smaller holdings, which is what this approach will do.

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