Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fail)

Ar dtús, I know we lauded the successes of many people in soccer at the outset but before I get to the important business of my Commencement matter, I wish to single out the heroics of young Donegal man Dylan Browne McMonagle over the weekend, who was crowned Irish Champion Jockey. He unseated six-time winner Colin Keane with 95 winners. Not only that, on Saturday night, he went over the US and recorded an historic Breeders' Cup win for Willie Mullins and is now heading off to Tokyo for the off-season in Ireland.He will no doubt return to perform more heroics next year. I hope the House will, on his return from Tokyo, invite him and his family to Leinster House to applaud what has been a huge success for this stellar young man in Irish sport.

The matter before the House relates to the EPA's report on large-scale illegal peat extraction. Like many people in rural Ireland, I am increasingly perplexed by the EPA, particularly in the aftermath of the report in question, which is riddled with inconsistencies. I am worried that we are relying on the EPA as we try to secure the continuation of our nitrates derogation from the EU. I am obliged to ask whether, on the basis of the detail in the report, anyone actually polices the EPA.

The report covers nine counties. It is riddled with significant and misleading errors. I will focus on the four sites in County Longford that are mentioned. I do so on the basis of an application for information under the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations. I will deal with the four sites in order. The site at Coolcraff is owned by Bord na Móna. In its report, the EPA said that Bord na Móna has ceased commercial harvesting and that large-scale remediation programmes are under way. How can the EPA honestly include this site in a report on large-scale illegal peat harvesting when the inspectors are fully aware that production at the site ceased in 2020?

The second site at Clooniher and Annaghcooleen comprises a very small area of bog measuring just under 5 ha. This site is being used for horticultural peat, and the rest is of the peat is being used for domestic fuel. How can the EPA honestly include an area of just under 5 ha as large-scale illegal peat harvesting when its inspectors are fully aware that it covers just 5 ha?

The next site lies across the three townlands of Derrymore, Trillickacurry and Ballymakeegan. The EPA took legal proceedings against Derrymore Peat Limited in relation to this site in August 2022. On foot of that court case, it was proven without doubt that there was no hydrological connection to any other area. In his ruling, Judge Owens dismissed all the charges against the defendant in the case. Peat in the area is now being harvested by Derrymore Peat, which applied to Longford County Council for a section 5 exemption. The council subsequently submitted that application to An Bord Pleanála on 20 January last. We are still awaiting a decision on it. EPA inspectors have visited the site on numerous occasions. How can the EPA honestly state that this site is being used for large-scale illegal peat harvesting when its inspectors are fully aware that the site is less than 28 hectares in size?

I welcome the Minister of State’s response on those questions. I hope to deal with the remaining site when I come back in.