Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will make a final comment. The Minister of State referred to the needs of turf cutters, which are clearly at the centre of much of the consultation. They are the stakeholders who have been centre stage in this process. However, if we are talking about the needs of turf cutters then it is not too much to also ask about the responsibilities and accountability of turf cutters. That is what my amendment would do. It would be a little clearer on the position because where rights are invoked, there are also responsibilities. Where needs are being addressed, there is also a level of accountability that needs to be addressed in respect of that, because there are wider needs in the community and in society and we balance those with each other. One point I hear all the time from the Government side of the House is in respect of balancing. It is a very simple thing to say if, as the Minister of State says, we are working with those groups and if the needs of turf cutters are central to this process, that we would also balance that with some level of accountability and clarity. I will not press the amendment at this stage as I hope the Minister of State will engage with us and have some exchange between, for example, other Departments on it.

I may amend the wording and resubmit the amendment so that the reference is to a joint report or an engagement specifically between the Department and another Department. I am happy to speak to the Minister of State about how that would be done but it would send a terrible signal if we say we are not willing to even think about what household use means. Perhaps there is some information the Minister of State can direct to me and others in the House who are concerned about the issue. We would appreciate some guidance on what we would expect household use to be in respect of turbary rights. Is there some precedent or previous reports? Perhaps there is information that I have not seen and that I am not aware of in regard to it. I would be concerned if it is a purely interpretative phase of household use. Currently, road safety is purely interpretative by individuals with no clear guidance as to what that might mean and we have seen the consequences on the byways of Ireland. Similarly, a purely interpretative version of household use is not good enough any more. I will not press the amendment at this stage but I will reintroduce the amendment and I will press it on Report Stage.