Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am responding specifically on the issue of the comparator mechanism, not the amendments put forward by others. My point is that if there is a natural heritage area in a community which people want to continue to be protected and it is used in a comparator mechanism with another area of protected peatland in different community, it should not be the case that a natural heritage area valued by one community and a second valued by different community will be set against each other in terms of only one being preserved as a protected area. It is a very simple example. This is not a comment on anybody. This is a comment on a comparator mechanism. I continue to speak to people about this matter. There is a generation of people coming up who are really concerned about these issues. They do not solely live in cities; they are located all around the place. I have spoken to young people. As stated, a specific young person from Clare Island came to me and a number of people from Achill have talked to me, as well as people from across Carna. They have really good ideas. They like the greenways proposal, for example, and if that had been a proposal from the Minister, that would have been fine. There are many specific proposals that could be thought through and done right but the comparator mechanism is blunt.

I hope a better phrasing is found. I acknowledge that the Minister of State and I have a difference of views in respect of the inclusion of blanket bog. I will press the amendment and I hope we can address the other issues.