Bog owners vow to defy EU ban and cut turf

BOG-OWNERS have vowed to continue cutting turf, defying an EU-imposed ban which they described as a “new form of eviction from people’s land”.

The Turf Cutters and Contractors Association said it will not accept the Government’s offer of €1,000 a year in compensation.

“We never looked for compensation, all we look for is to continue our right to cut turf,” said its spokesman and Independent TD, Luke Ming Flanagan.

The TD said he met with Environment Minister Phil Hogan to discuss the issue but he never mentioned that the compensation scheme would be announced yesterday.

“It will cost you €3,000 to heat your house in the upcoming winter, for €400 you can do that by going out and cutting turf on your bog. So I don’t think it takes a genius to work out that it’s not a good deal,” said Mr Flanagan.

But the Department of the Environment said the state faces fines of up to €20,000 a day from Brussels if it does not implement the EU Habitats Directive.

Mr Flanagan said the EU has told the Government to “go back and do what you are told” but insisted: “We’re not doing what we are told, we are free people in this country and we shall continue to cut turf.”

He said Fine Gael should have known this when it made a pre-election promise to protect bog-owners.

“We were promised on this, they have gone back on a promise and we are not going to accept that,” he said.

The compensation offer is available to 3,500 cutters who worked at 31 raised bogs in the midlands and west that are considered special areas of conservation.

The previous Government offered to buy bog land from 1,200 owners in the midlands but so far 380 of these have not been paid.

Mr Flanagan said if the Government does not have the money they will be unable to meet yesterday’s compensation package.

“Where are they going to get money to give to turf cutters who don’t want it in the first place? All we want to do is to continue our right to cut turf.”

IFA spokesman Padraic Divilly said the compensation should be doubled: “Farmers must be allowed to cut turf for domestic purposes. Where restrictions are imposed, the payments should be to €2,000 per annum, and for the lifetime of the bog, not 15 years as announced.”

The ban was due to come into effect in 2009, but then Environment Minister John Gormley said it is being postponed to allow an “orderly transition” and issues such as compensation for farmers to be sorted out.