The Irish Farmers Association has warned that any interference with turf cutting on raised bogs will be “fiercely resisted” by farmers in rural areas across the country.
IFA Connacht vice president and SAC project team chairman, Padraic Divilly, said this week that there is widespread opposition in rural Ireland to proposals by the Minister for the Environment John Gormley to restrict turf-cutting. Under a 10-year-old EU directive, turf-cutting is to be banned on raised bogs which have been designated special areas of conservation.
Mr Divilly said that the Government’s proposal to ban turf cutting on 32 raised bogs will affect up to 6,000 landowners who depend on turf as a cheap and clean fuel. Mr Divilly is now calling on Minister Gormley to allow turf-cutting on designated raised bogs for domestic use.
“Turf cutting for domestic purposes must be allowed as there is no damage done to bogs. In the case of a commercial operation a compensation or relocation scheme must be put in place. The bogs the Minister is imposing restrictions on have been preserved through generations by the good management of local people.
“The Minister must offer a meaningful and practical solution which involves recognising the rights of individuals to cut turf for their own use. Turf cutting has a huge social impact on rural Ireland and any interference with it will be fiercely resisted,” he said.
The IFA which recently met with Minister Gormley has said that it is not acceptable that the wishes of the majority of people, who are opposed to the proposal to restrict turf cutting, are being ignored.
