Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, perhaps we need a reality check of where we are at present in terms of the balance. It is scientifically acknowledged that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. Some 200 species become extinct every day. Since 1970, humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The assessment of the overall status of habitats in Ireland is that 85% of habitats are in unfavourable conditions and 46% are demonstrating declining trends. In terms of peatlands in Ireland, 26% of Ireland's mammal species utilise peatland. Some 75% of the world's organic store carbon is in peatlands. Blanket bogs are key. As regards our native flora and fauna, given that people talk about wanting to enjoy the birds and the bees, 49% of all endangered species are found on our peatlands and 23% of Ireland's endangered plants - the relationship between our pollinators and our indigenous plant life is key - are peatlands species. When talking about the balance we should be clear that the balance has been skewed. It has been particularly skewed over the last few decades because this generation has extracted peat at a level and in a different way from what previous generations may have done. It has been machine led. Let us be clear about that.

With regard to all these projects and development being discussed, we are not discussing all peatland in this debate, only peatland in the natural heritage areas. We are discussing peatland strategy as a whole, but the bogs that may be de-designated under this are bogs that have been identified as a small number of natural heritage areas which are of particular heritage importance. This is not to say that one cannot do anything in Ballina; it says what happens in these recognised heritage areas.

It was said that we would work around any designation. The Bill allows for there to be no designation. These areas would be de-designated and open to activities. The key point is the decision on de-designating them. The Minister has already made far too much of a concession to this amendment. We talked about regional, social, cultural and economic needs. They are already referred to in the Bill. The decision on de-designation and designation already involved a balancing of environmental criteria, which are poorly defined in my opinion, against economic, social and cultural needs. What this amendment seeks to do is not green projects, necessarily, but greens. It involves sporting projects or facilities. It refers to enhancement of a community, but that is already covered under social, cultural and economic needs. However, the amendment adds "sporting projects or facilities, golf courses, sports fields, greenways, community gain or strategic infrastructural projects". In talking about sporting and recreational needs, which is the Minister of State's version of it, I have yet to hear an assurance from him that he is not including golf courses in his definition. The definition he has added through the addition of sporting and recreational needs as a ground or one of the factors to be considered in de-designating a protected area covers all these things. That is the reason I will propose amendments later to explicitly exclude golf courses. A golf course is not in any way a green or biodiverse environment comparable to peatland. It is a straight misrepresentation to do this.

I also wish to appeal against the idea that this is about the west of Ireland versus others. I am from the west, and I have talked to people from Carna to Clare Island about this Bill. They care about their environment. They want community development and projects in their local areas, but many young people across the west want thought-through planning that works in terms of biodiversity, which means that they, their communities and the environment can work together. They have many brilliant new ideas on how that should be done. They are passionate about this and want it to be done.

Some of the projects will need to be changed. Flooding was mentioned. Bad planning without due regard to environmental considerations has been one of the massive contributors to flooding.