Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 4, line 3, after “maintaining” to insert “raised”.

This is the same core issue we have discussed repeatedly, of which I hope there is reconsideration happening, namely, the inclusion of blanket bogs in what was originally envisaged, designed and prepared as legislation in respect of raised bogs.The 12-year period of consultation and research on raised bogs did not sufficiently address issues such as carbon capture or pollination and elements of it are out of date, as the Minister acknowledged with his amendments and by accepting mine. Nevertheless there was, at least, a process and we may be able to fix the issues retrospectively. By accepting my amendment No. 4, the Minister has given some regard to my argument and he has also introduced the issue of biodiversity. There was not the same period of consultation and research for blanket bogs and they have not undergone the same process. Blanket bogs, a particularly vulnerable environment, were introduced at the last Stage in the Dáil, effectively doubling the remit of the Bill. This meant that a whole new ecosystem was brought into the realm of the Bill, affecting things like designation and dedesignation procedures which we will talk about shortly.

This is a final appeal to the Minister to accept amendment No. 9 and further amendments which will narrow the scope of the Bill specifically to raised bogs and will allow for better and more up-to-date legislation. This would be preceded by appropriate consultation and scientific research processes on blanket bogs. If we have a Bill on apples it would not make sense to throw oranges in at the last minute. This is another issue which was added to a Bill that was designed for one particular environment. The debate has moved on since Fianna Fáil made the case for the inclusion of blanket bogs, to which the current Minister agreed. Our understanding of peatlands has moved on and is reflected in some aspects of the Government's narrative around the budget in terms of rewetting and increasing employment in bog restoration under just transition. The future for peatlands in Ireland is going to be more in the area of restoration than resource exploitation. I urge the Minister to narrow the focus of the Bill to produce fit-for-purpose legislation in respect of blanket bogs in the future, instead of the awkward stretch we have at the moment. I hope the Minister is able to accept the amendment.