Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Anybody who voted for the amendment and claims to be concerned about the environment made his or her priorities really clear. It was a disgraceful decision by those backbenchers. Nonetheless, all these considerations are in play, including those brought by the Minister of State. There was a concession too far but I supported social, economic and cultural considerations. The addition relates to recreational and sporting concerns. There are a number of factors so how is the Minister of State considering social, economic and cultural factors while also examining what happens to the peat or to the ground after extraction? The bog may in future be used as a car park for a hotel or it may become an amenity and that is already allowed. I appreciate that did not come from the Minister of State's amendments. If there is an economic case and an economic benefit may come from the bog, it can be considered. The Minister of State is already considering what will happen afterwards. We could consider the case made locally in respect of economic, social, sporting or recreational considerations. We would be considering the future life of this potentially de-designated bog.

It is appropriate, given that the Minister of State is considering what happens next as part of the review, that he should also consider what happens next in terms of turf cutting. There is a logical consistency in that. I do not wish to press the Minister of State but it is an illogical inconsistency to say it is beyond the ambit of the Department to say whether the turf could be cut by machine afterwards or the bog could be opened to commercial exploitation. Whatever steps may be needed to avoid that likelihood is part of the Department's consideration.

The Minister of State mentioned there may be future regulation on small-scale cutting as every bit of cutting is still cutting, whether it is on a vast or a small bog. For example, the Minister of State could assure me no bogs would be de-designated prior to the existence of regulations on small-scale cutting but we do not have such an assurance in the Bill. Perhaps it is something people may put forward in the Dáil but I do not know that. Currently, a bog may be de-designated and there is a lacuna in the context of what happens afterwards. The Minister of State has recognised the issue in the contracts for relocation and I just seek consistency. I do not need to press all of these and I come with multiple approaches in the hope of finding one that is amenable to the Minister of State or which might work. Could he work with any of these amendments? What about local regulation?