Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cé go raibh seachtain aimsir bhreá againn, tá an aimsir beagáinín briste inniu. Le linn na haimsire breá, chuaigh cuid mhaith daoine amach ag baint móna arís, mar a dhéantar de ghnáth. The turf cutting season has commenced. Even though we have had bad weather, we had a respite last week and some people got out on to the bogs to cut turf. I have called on a number of occasions for a debate on the future of turf cutting. It is important that we have that debate because my understanding is no agreement has been reached with the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, TCCA, about turf cutting on bogs. I have been told by its representatives that there has been no meaningful dialogue with them, even though the deputy EU Commissioner who deals with this area told Deputy Brian Stanley and I when we met him a number of months ago that the future plan for the development of bogs in Ireland needed to be based on the plans the TCCA put forward. I am concerned that there will be an escalation of conflict between the turf cutters and the Government apparatus over the summer and I hope that does not happen. It is important that the outstanding issues be resolved. It is also important that the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht should come to the House to fully debate the issue and to examine both the TCCA and Government proposals to see if a resolution can be found in the near future. Bheadh mé an-bhuíoch dá bhféadfaí é sin a dhéanamh go luath mar go bhfuil an séasúr tosaithe.