Turf Cutters & Contractors Association Press Release
4th April 2012



1. The TCCA exists to defend the right of Irish People to cut their own turf, for their own use, on their own turf banks, as our people have done for over 500 years and still our Raised Bogs remain the best preserved in all of Europe.

2. The TCCA’s proposals to the Government and EU Commission demonstratedhow in co-operation and consultation with the local communities people could continue to exercise their traditional, heritage, cultural and property rights, while at the same time protecting 103% of the Raised Bog area protected by the current SAC regime. Our Implementation strategy document demonstrated how this could be achieved over a three year phased transition period.

3. The disconnect between Irish Law and EU law places our members in the invidious position of being obliged by law to assert and defend their rights, but in so doing they are allegedly transgressing foreign EU law.

4. In the Dail (6-Mar-2012), Deputy Claire Daly T.D. pointed to the
position in which the Government finds itself. It is offering a
compensation scheme for which one of the key eligibility criteria is that the applicant must have allegedly broken the law in the previous five years. Applicants who have allegedly obeyed the law, are ineligible for the compensation scheme.

5. In a Statement issued on Tuesday 03/04/2012 16:30:55, the Irish Government and the EU Commission jointly rejected the TCCA proposals and implementation strategy, Justice Quirke’s call for innovation in attempting to resolve the difficulties caused in Ireland by the Habitats Directive, and the Unanimous Democratic vote of Dail Eireann.

6. Faced with this latest act of betrayal, the TCCA is withdrawing from ALL contacts and co-operation with the Irish Government and the Chairman of Peatlands Council and we are asking all of our local bog committees to likewise break off all contact with NPWS and Government officials.

7. We reiterate our call for the establishment of an Independent Commission of Inquiry, headed by an Irish High Court Judge to investigate the conduct and activities of the NPWS, its predecessor Duchas and the Irish Government, pertaining to Ireland’s botched implementation of the Habitat’s Directive.

8. As all discussions & negotiations have broken down, we hereby free our members from the request that they hold off exercising their rights while discussions continued. We believe that in honour of the 1916 rising, its leaders, its spirit of Irish Freedom and Independence, that Easter Week would be the ideal week to strike for freedom and exercise your Turbary Rights in the time honoured Irish tradition.

10. The European Commissioners rejection of the will of the Ireland’s People, her parliament and her Constitution is further evidence of the Anti Democratic and Dictatorial nature of the European union. Turf Cutters, their families, friends and supporters may wish to take this into consideration when it come to voting in the EU Referendum on 31-May-2012.

END.

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TCCA Proposal’s on 57 Raised Bog Complexes To EU Commission and Irish Government

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Welcome to the TCCA

A voluntary group based in the west of Ireland which is opposed to a European Union (EU) directive to outlaw turf cutting on family bogs.

Chairmans Address

Firstly I would like to thank you for visiting our web-site. I would like to point out that we are fully in favour of conservation and have proved beyond any doubt that turf cutting & conservation can co-exist. Even the most extreme opponents of domestic turf cutting have admitted that our bogs that are designated are the most pristine in Europe, if not the world. It’s a credit to the people over the generations for the way they have kept their bogs.

I hope when you visit this site you can understand the difference between domestic turf cutting, where people only take enough for the annual supply for the family home and commercial operations where huge amounts are extracted. Bear in mind that the State owns 92% of these bogs and 1 acre will last domestic cutters approx 300 years effectively giving us our own little oil well & fuel security. Thus avoiding another problem in Ireland at the moment fuel poverty.

The TCCA was setup to fight for the right of the continuation of domestic turf cutting in Ireland. It was also to represent the people affected by the Habitats Directive which was passed into Irish law in 1997 by Minister of the day Michael D Higgins thus creating SACs(Special Areas of Conservation) and later in 2001 a Finna Fail coalition government enacted the Wild Life act which created NHAs (National Heritage Areas).

There is a real threat from Europe and The Irish Government to grab another Natural Resource from the indigenous people of this country but this appears to be the one that will break the camels back.

I would ask that you join with us in our journey to protect the rights of the good people of Ireland be it through membership, supporting meetings, adding your voice on the radio, joining our facebook page, or making your local politician aware of the wrong-doing that is going on.

There are solutions to this problem but sadly no one seems to be listening. Common sense will resolve this issue in an orderly fashion.

But may I state categorically that bullying, threats or intimidation will NOT be tolerated against any of our members.

If you have any questions or comments please get in touch through the 'contact us' page.

Nil aon thintean mar do thintean fein,
Le Mass Michael Fitzmaurice.

 

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