An Bord Pleanála has turned down an appeal by the minister against a decision of Kildare County Council to refuse her department planning permission for a proposal to allow turf cutting at Coolree Bog near Prosperous, Co Kildare.

The Government has performed a last-minute U-turn on its controversial plan to make householders pay for the collection of recycled waste.

The Minister for Climate Change is being urged to set up a citizens convention on how Ireland will handle the issue.

The Minister for Climate Change Ciaran Cuffe has said legislation should be in place early next year to enforce Ireland's targets for limiting greenhouse gases.