Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of all persons appointed by him to serve as members of boards, review groups or to prepare reports for him since his appointment. [7745/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The Government, on 7 April 2011, announced that it is establishing an independent non-statutory Peatlands Council to respond to commitments set out in the Programme for Government and to assist Ireland in addressing, in a strategic way, the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive in regard to the protection and conservation of important peatland habitats.

I have appointed Mr. Conor Skehan as Chair of the Council. Mr. Skehan is a lecturer with DIT's School of Spatial Planning, and a former Director of Bord na Móna with experience of the peat sector. His consultancy experience in EIA and Habitats legislation gives him an overview of the legal and scientific issues of relevance to the Council's mandate.