Protecting our bogs - Principle must prevail over pressure

If the fact that our fifth attempt at enacting a climate protection bill is winding its way through the Oireachtas at a glacial pace does not portray a dysfunctional, dangerous attitude towards environmental protection or social responsibility, then yesterday’s symbolic protest by around 150 turf cutters — cheered on by two Dáil deputies — at Kerry’s Moanveanlagh bog, highlights the cultural ambiguity that sustains this prevaricating, responsibility-dodging foolishness.

Like those Kerry protesters, too many of us seem to believe that what we describe as ancient rights, conferred by no greater authority than tradition, trump our obligations to the future.

Too many of us still believe that old practices can stand, even if they depend on the destruction of endangered species or habitat, even if science points to their unsustainability. Unfortunately, turf-cutting is not the only destructive practice that can be so characterised in the Ireland of 2013.

It is unfortunate, too, that this denial is sustained, even in a tacit way, by the lighter than light-touch regulation imposed by all political parties. Instead of leading from the front, they have used the detachment of the great majority of people on these issues to quietly facilitate the wishes of various destructive interests.

The issue of raised bogs and yesterday’s protest was part of a national campaign to increase the compensation offered and is a perfect example of how our system fails, of how the loudest voices always seem to prevail.

In 1999, the Government, under pressure from Europe, named 128 raised bogs for preservation but that figure was quickly reduced to 32. Adding to the impression that official Ireland was not as committed to this objective as it should have been, and despite very generous compensation packages, bog owners were allowed to cut turf for another decade. Eleven years ago, another 21 bogs were listed but harvesting allowed until 2009. Next year, 75 more bogs will be listed. This will mean that just a paltry 4% of our bogs are protected.

Almost 40% of our raised bogs have been destroyed in recent years and commercial turf-cutting is the primary culprit. Despite this vandalism, a national peatland strategy is expected within two years and it is anticipated it will allow for some turf cutting even on protected bogs. Once again the loudest — if misguided — voices seem set to prevail.

One of the turf-cutters’ arguments that is hard to reject is that it seems unfair to curtail their activities while a state agency — Bord na Móna — harvests tens of thousands of tons of peat from other bogs each year. This is a different issue but one that nonetheless needs attention and careful consideration, but the adage that two wrongs don’t make a right must be applied, in the short term at least.

Our raised bogs and other parts of our environment are in jeopardy because successive governments have tried to be all things to all men and made concessions they should not have. That approach has not worked and it is time this hail-fellow-well-met dodging ended. It’s time to end the silliness and offer the turf-cutters intent on destroying our remaining raised bogs for commercial gain a simple choice — the very generous compensation offered on all our behalf or a day in court.