John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of turf cutting on raised bogs, particularly in County Roscommon where three bogs, Callow Bog, the Float Bog and Bellanagare Bog, were designated. Many people might have been happy to take the compensation at the time it was offered but there are many who are not happy to do so. They were promised relocation to other bogs but it now appears, three years later, that the National Parks and Wildlife Service is saying relocation is not an option for them. The former Minister, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, was in this Chamber in 2013 and made a commitment that if people did not want to take the compensation and if relocation was not an option, he would go back to Europe and seek de-designation of the bogs. I call on the current Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to come to the House to debate this issue and outline what she will do for the turf cutters. What has happened has been grossly unfair to them and there have been heavy-handed tactics to date. The matter needs to be resolved and it will never go away.