Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS published a long-term plan for Irish peatlands which will see many Irish bogs de-designated so turf cutting can continue.
The three documents, published by Minister Jimmy Deenihan, set out for the first time a long-term vision for the protection of Ireland’s bogs.
Perhaps the most interesting development in the strategy is the plan to de-designate a number of the National Heritage Areas (NHAs) to allow turf cutters to continue cutting these raised bogs. The overall area of endangered habitats will be increased but it will exclude the most heavily cut sites, avoiding any impact on over 80 per cent of active turf cutters. This means cutting will be able to continue on 45 of the NHAs.
Many of the 25 new sites proposed for designation are already in public ownership or have few or no turf cutters and anyone required to cease cutting will be offered compensatory measures, similar to those available in relation to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). This compensation scheme is open for applications with immediate effect, the department told TheJournal.ie.
Pragmatic approach
As for the SACs, the strategy provides for the future restoration and management of the 53 raised bog SACs and proposes that a number of Bord na Móna owned bogs be put forward as compensatory SACs. To date, some 2,800 applications have been made for compensation under this scheme.
One of the documents published today also sets out proposals for the development of a new regulatory regime for turf contractors.
“For all our benefit, we need to protect and preserve a sample of these for ourselves and future generations, whilst also working with communities that are affected by conservation requirements,” commented the minister.
If we can meet our conservation targets in a way that impacts on fewer people, and reduces pressure on the taxpayer, then that is the type of pragmatic approach that I believe we should take.
Devil in the detail
While TD Luke Ming Flanagan, who is also PRO of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association (TCCA), welcomed the proposed de-designation of some of the NHA sites, he said the ‘”devil will be in the detail” of the 600 pages of documents published today.
“We are also wary of the fact that the strategy sets out proposals for a new regime of regulation for turf cutters,” he said. “It’s one thing to say there’ll be de-designation but we can’t welcome it if it will be made impossible to cut turf because of onorous regulations”.
The Roscommon TD accused the government of changing its position in order to win some votes for candidates from the two government parties in the upcoming local and European elections.
“The Fine Gael and Labour TDs in the areas where people were daft enough to vote for them were terrified by this issue,” he said. “Whenever an election comes up, governments, whoever they are, seem to move their position on this and when the election is over they move it back again.”
“Let’s just say that if there was an election every year, there’d never be a ban on turf cutting,” he added.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Not stolen. Just resting in someone’s garage.
@Tweed Cap: Like a lot of road signs these days, ending up at auctions around the country and fetching a nice price.
@Tweed Cap: ‘She was stolen and murdered!’…
‘Really?’…
‘well, they don’t know, they’re keeping her in for tests!’
It’s a odd one and more a reflection of our society as a whole. I was in Austria recently and came across an information kiosk by the side of the road – packed with flat screen tv, stationary, guide books etc. It was completely open and unattended – it had no door!
The wife and I were amazed. Something like that would not last five minutes here before being stolen or set on fire!
There was a local community initiative launched in my own town last year. A community garden was built and set up by local volunteers. Within a week of opening the locals had laid waste to it. Completely destroyed it.
It’s quiet sad really we just cannot have nice things
@Hoomanbean: Austria and other countries in the area are a lot more sophisticated than most others…
@Hoomanbean: Österreich not in EU; not bound by EU regulations!!
@Donncha Mac Sléimhne: pardon my ignorance, however I must have missed the EU regulation enforcing decorum and general civility amongst the population of a nation
Down with that sorta thing!
Anyone interested in a Mrs Doyle sign? Send me a PM : )
So where did you say the other ones were……
In all fairness, what else would ye expect! Daft idea.
@Robert Madden: Why? Surely anything that raises people’s awareness about road safety is a good thing.
The amount pathetic negative nay sayers who comment on the Journal is really sad.
@Ger Healy:
“pathetic nay sayer”?
I think Robert was alluding the fact that it was fairly crazy to expect no one would steal something as funny as a life sized Mrs Doyle
@Thinck: Exactly that, thanks Thinck.
@Ger Healy: suddenly I’m anti road safety? Forgive me for thinking that life size cardboard Mrs Doyle’s dotted around Mayo wouldn’t last that long.
@Ger Healy: your negativity towards negativity is bringing me down!
@Robert Madden: So, there’s s fee idiots around! There will always be people like that but do we just do nothing because if them?
You are saying it was a bad idea.
Any initiative on road safety has to be good., don’t you think?
@Ger Healy: This idea, was a bad idea.
Looks like Pat mustard has put his big tool in her box
And that’s why we can’t have nice things….
@aboutallthethings: Get a life !
Dear Garda – go to Adverts.ie
In fairness, if i was feeling tired, and i saw a sign which suggested ‘go on go on go on’, it might give the wrong impression about what the message being made was
Why did they not put up an image of enda kenny ,or phil hogan ,or even john bruton ,mrs doyle was just too popular to be left alone.next time perhaps .
@Anthony Gallagher:
Probably because people would have ran over them :)
They robbed her?
What did they get?
No, they stole her!
@Paddy Reid: aww you got there before me :)
@Paddy Reid: What did they get, someone to have sex with lol.
I quite like the campaign where petrol stations give coffee for people who are tired or on a long drive that be so nice
I agree, Mayo County Council you have done a great job, please create more of these signs as I would personally like one. Can I pre-order one or is on a first come first served basis like today?
Why don’t they bless the roads in Mayo again? Was it not a success the last time?
The shear fact that the signs have been stolen has raised awareness of the hazards associated with our roads and our bank holiday weekends. Great job Journal for bringing it to the fore.
Fantastic job Mayo Co. Co. for a modern attempt to raise awareness with a household name. Hat off you you.
Signs stolen, awareness raised nationally – everybody wins, well almost, would be nice to see the signs back up again. Maybe the thieves will return them in the middle of the night?
Who she?
@Fank Pulman: Who you?
@Gary: My name is Ozymandias…
@Fank Pulman: Feck off then.
Was a real breakthrough in avoiding accidents
“Topless Women Enforce Speed Limit In Russia” was a more glamorous attempt to kill speed but not people. Perhaps they should have sent the Mrs. Doyle cut-outs Siberia way and brought the Russian hotties over here…? …thinking about it, no, there would have been so much rubber-necking going on it would have been absolute carnage in both jurisdictions.
@Paul Jennings: sorry I can’t cut, never mind paste. That story also appeared under “Breast Way To Stop Speeding.” It was a “Sun” title, surprise surprise.
I would suggest checking on Fargo Boyle
She was not stolen the cup of tea in her hand got cold and she went up make a fresh pot and a tray of sandwiches. She be back soon . Jeez
She’s going in full back against the rossies on monday. Would be better than what’s there.
I don’t think you understand father, she was robbed. They stole her!!
If they can take in the roads during the bad weather and store them in a warehouse like I heard they do on the islands, they should take them in on bank holidays too.
Lol
Stupid fkn idea. Have all the idiots slowing down to take photos.
@Aurin O’Brien: why? Is that what you would do?
@Ger Healy: thats it Ger.. good man yourself.
@Aurin O’Brien: That’s the best you can do? Pathetic.
@Ger Healy: no Ger I just can’t fall low enough to deal with Fktards like you.
McLymn would have gravitas. Useless paddywhackery
have your say