PRESS RELEASE

16th February 2012

Turf Cutters and Contractors Association (TCCA)

16th Feb 2012

The Turf cutters and Contractors Association welcomes the press statement issued by the chairman of the Peatlands Council, Conor Skeehan. The TCCA has stuck to its policy of ensuring that the most difficult bogs are resolved first.

“Now is the time for the turf cutters to stand together as a united force. We will not simply accept a solution that involves relocation only.” said TCCA chairperson Michael Fitzmaurice, adding “we need every turf cutter in the country to let their public representatives know that we are united in getting a solution for ALL turf cutters, their support is paramount right now.”

We are protesting at the Dáil on March the 7th when I will present a Private Members Motion calling on all Dáil Deputies to vindicate our rights. We have submitted a comprehensive set of proposals with a range of potential solutions. It would be incorrect to focus on just one option.

In this long protracted issue there is at last recognition from those tasked with finding a solution, that turf cutters in bogs where relocation is not an option will have their cases prioritised and fully dealt with. We welcome the statement form the Chairperson of the Peatlands Council.

“It is critical to recognise that partial solutions will be unacceptable to turf-cutting communities. For this reason it is imperative to give priority to those bogs where relocation is unlikely to be an option. I am advising all parties – cutters and officials – that work must commence immediately on finding solutions for these bogs – as the first priority. At the highest levels – both in Ireland and Europe - all options must be exhaustively explored for these bogs - with and on behalf of the communities on these bogs.”

Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD
PRO for the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association

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URGENT!

Friends,

It is important that as many people as possible register their objection to the EU & Government's attempt to interfere with our Rights to our Bogs (& now our Farms as well).

Therefore, I am asking all my friends to make Individual Submissions, ...
and I also ask that you spread the word and encourage others to make submissions also.

To make it easier, I have included a suggested Template Submission below.
People may just send it in as it is, send an amended version, or send a completely different submission. Either way, it is vital that people make a submission !!!!

Individuals may make their Submissions to the e-Mail Address listed,or by ordinary post to the postal address included.

Persons who do not have access to e-mail can make Individual Submissions by post.

I have also attached a Microsoft Word Document copy of the Template Individual Submission, which can be printed off to easily enable people who do not have a computer to make a submission.

When persons sign the submission I would suggest that they just give a general address, so as to avoid giving the NPWS too much information.

All Submissions need to be sent in before the end of January, so there really isn't any time to lose.

Thank you.

Regards

Tom Ward.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SAMPLE SUBMISSION

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TCCA PRESS RELEASE
05-DEC-2011

RE: Request for Written Submissions on Peatlands Strategy.

CLICK HERE TO READ IT

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PRESS RELEASE
TCCA RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION PACKAGE
25th OCT 2011

CLICK HERE TO READ IT

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TCCA LEAVES PEATLAND COUNCIL

Statement from Luke 'Ming' Flanagan TD

Last Thursday (Sept 22nd) Minister Phil Hogan told a group of FG councillors in Sligo that "the bogs are gone". On the same day Minister Jimmy Deenihan assured the EU Commissioner that NO turf would be cut on the 55 SAC bogs in 2012. On Monday of this week the TCCA walked out of the Peatlands Council. The purpose of the Peatlands Council, as we had understood it, was to find a solution to this issue. How then can both Minister Deenihan and Hogan expect the TCCA to continue with this process when they have already decided the result.

This duplicitous behaviour is something which the TCCA has now become well used to. We have been promised much but nothing has ever been delivered upon. Here are but a few examples.

1. At a private meeting which took place in Leinster House on April 4th Minister Phil Hogan told us to tell our people to cut our turf. In fact on March 1st in advance of taking over his current portfolio Minister Deenihan told us that we would not be "interfered with" this year. However when people subsequently cut their turf they were set upon by the law without warning. To make matters worse Minister Deenihan through various media outlets, then referred to us as "bad citizens".

2. Much has been made of the 'generous' compensation scheme on offer to turf cutters. This is not the first such scheme which has been in operation. Under a previous scheme hundreds of turf cutter were never paid. Through the Chair of the Peatlands Council Minister Phil Hogan gave the TCCA an undertaking that those people who had agreed to sell their bog under the now defunct scheme would get what was owing to them within 2 months. To date this has not been delivered on.

3. The NPWS informed the TCCA at the Peatlands Council that Flughanny bog was solved by relocation of turf cutters to another bog. Why then did 10 people come to the TCCA and inform them that they were never offered relocation. In total almost half the turf cutters were offered no deal whatsoever.

4.An agreement with the Turf Cutters on all saints bog was dishonoured by the NPWS. This agreement would have led to the preservation of the bog in question. Minister Deenihan had a meeting approximately three months ago with these people. He told them that he would get back to them within three weeks. But he has failed to do so to date. For someone who claims to want to find a solution this is a strange way to go about it. He had a solution yet he has done nothing about it.

The solution to this problem is three fold. Relocation to a nearby good quality bog. Full or part dedesignation of bogs where relocation is not a possibility. Compensation where this is acceptable to the turf cutter. As an organisation the TCCA has travelled the country proposing these solutions. However when the government continues to renege on agreements with people over compensation, relocation and dedesignation, as outlined above then peoples faith in the process inevitably breaks down.
For many years the TCCA has been crystal clear about the fact that the attempt to prevent turf cutting on 55 Special Area of Conservation bogs followed in 2014 by 75 National Heritage Area bogs was only the thin end of the wedge. The TCCA have always contended that it is the ultimate ambition of both the EU and the Irish state to prevent Turf Cutting on all bogs regardless of conservation status. We have continually listened to the line that 'it is only a few bogs'. Our contention that all bogs are being targeted for closure was yesterday proved correct. The signing into law of The European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) regulations 2011 will make it impossible for turf cutters to continue a practice which has been carried out for hundreds of years. This is something which we will not and cannot accept.

YouTube Videos

TCCA LEAVES PEATLAND COUNCIL - TV3 Coverage

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