Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the three draft reports produced by his Department, his views on these reports; what he expects the outcome of this process will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/14]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle and I am delighted to be able to address this issue. I attempted to do so twice when the reports came out but it was not deemed important enough to be discussed in the Dáil. It is good that we can talk about it today. There is much talk about value for money in Ireland, as it is very important to people. When we consider the estimated €500 million that is being thrown at the issue of bogs and the Habitats Directive, one would imagine we could get success. After all these years, the success is as follows.

The Minister is in charge of the following bogs. Killyconny bog's active raised bog habitat has decreased by 89%, that of Raheenmore is down by 13.5% and that of Lough Forbes is down by 91.6%. There are four bogs on which we cut turf; my bog of Cloonchambers has seen the active raised bog habitat increase by 120%; that of Moanveanlagh has increased by 69.8%, that of Monivea has increased by 66.9% - I witnessed 1,000 hoppers of turf cut there this year - and Lisnageeragh's active raised bog habitat has increased by 127%. The best performing bog has turf cut by our chairman, Mr. Michael Fitzmaurice.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I recently published the draft national peatlands strategy, the draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and the review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. The draft peatlands strategy has been prepared in consultation with relevant Departments and with the Peatlands Council. It sets out for the first time a strategic, long-term vision for the management and use of our peatlands resources. This includes the protection of Ireland's unique bog habitats while also clearly recognising the valued tradition of turf cutting and the many other uses to which Ireland’s vast peatlands are put. The draft strategy envisages more joined-up thinking across Government when policies and decisions relating to the future use of peatlands are made. The drafting of an SAC management plan was recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke following the peatlands forum and was called for in the motion that was agreed by Dáil Éireann in March 2012. It sets out how the raised bog SACs are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed.

The NHA review proposes a reconfiguration of the network of raised bog NHAs and will involve the de-designation of a number of sites and the designation of new NHAs. The resultant network of sites will be of greater conservation value than the existing network while reducing the number of turf cutters who will be required to cease cutting from over 3,000 to just over 500. These documents have been underpinned by the most comprehensive scientific assessment that has ever been undertaken of our raised bog resource. A three-month period of public consultation has now commenced and I urge people to reflect on these proposals and to let their views be known.

When I came into office, Ireland was on the cusp of legal action in the European courts for failure to implement the law. Since then, we have introduced a compensation and relocation scheme, which is heavily subscribed; established the Peatlands Council; held a peatlands forum; and through these most recent policy advances, are bringing certainty to difficult issues that have been avoided for too long. We now need to consolidate the progress that we have made and ensure the preservation and restoration of our most valuable bog habitats while addressing the legitimate concerns and needs of those affected. These documents set out how, working together, we can do this. I again encourage all stakeholders to engage with me and my Department so we can continue to make real progress.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I would really appreciate if the Minister did not, when asked a question, come to the Chamber and read verbatim from a script which he does not even understand. If the idea of the Habitats Directive is to preserve bogs, I have no problem with that, as they are fantastic habitats which need to be preserved. There should also be room for turf cutters. If the idea of preservation is to improve quality, will the Minister, rather than reading verbatim from a script, explain how my bog grew by 120.1%, and in area is only down 1.5% in 17 years? Fernandez has indicated that turf cutting is on the decline so over the next 17 years, the decrease will be even less. At the same time, Lough Forbes has lost 91.6% of its active raised bog habitat. What exactly is the Minister trying to achieve?

It is quite clear what is being achieved. The Minister is alienating turf cutters and destroying habitat. Will he deal with the issues? If one reads some of the stuff about us in the media, one would think we are trying to destroy bogs but my bog and that of our group's chairman are the best performing bogs in the country.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I answered the question asked by the Deputy and gave my views on these reports, which are very important. Even the Deputy would recognise that this has been the most scientific approach to this subject ever taken in this country. It has enabled the Deputy to come up with his statistics today. Listening to the Deputy, I wonder if sometimes he does not fully understand the issue. I do not mind Deputies trying to change the law but he is trying to break the law and, unfortunately, advocating such action.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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That is not the issue.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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If I can finish, the Deputy knows that SACs were designated by European law.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Not according to my barrister.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It is transposed into Irish law, and something major is required to change that. This scientific evidence will give us an opportunity to go back to Europe, if we get the co-operation of people on those SACs. In the case of some bogs where there is no relocation, there may be room for a proposal for limited turf cutting under Article 6.4 of the Habitats Directive. We could have that opportunity, if there is co-operation from everybody.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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It is of no help, and I do not appreciate that every time I come to the House to represent turf cutters, and also to represent an organisation whose chair was described as a hero and a patriot by the Taoiseach, that the Minister calls us criminals. If the Minister wants to find a solution he must stop calling us criminals.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I never called anyone a criminal.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Let the courts decide that and do not predetermine what the courts have decided.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Flanagan should put his supplementary question.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I stand here today proud of the fact that active raised bog habitat has grown on my bog. On a bog of which the Minister is in charge, it is down by 91.6%. It is time for the Minister to resign. It is time for the National Parks & Wildlife Service to step back because it does not have a clue.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I never described those people as criminals in this House.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I am one of those people.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Since the 53 SAC bogs were designated we have lost 37% of the active raised bogs in those habitats.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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That is on the bogs the Minister owns.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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That is being taken very seriously in Europe. If Deputy Flanagan has his way we will be in the European Court and we will face huge fines. I welcome the fact that the Turf Cutters & Contractors Association, TCCA, has gone into consultation with the consultant that drew up the plans. It had a five-hour meeting with him recently. I requested the TCCA to do that with the RPS Group consultants months back but it decided not to do so.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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The RPS Group is appalled.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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That is the TCCA's own business but now it has entered into discussions. I appeal to Deputy Flanagan. My door is always open to anyone. Many of the Deputies present took up the offer and came to me privately and they have been very helpful. In spite of what he said, the same opportunity is open to Deputy Flanagan. He can speak to me about the matter anytime.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Does the Minister want to talk to me, a criminal?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am open to speak to everyone.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Calling me a criminal does not help. An olive branch is long overdue.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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We have made great progress. We can go even further if given the opportunity.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I am making great progress on my bog.