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HUNDREDS OF TURF cutters have been using the upcoming presidential election as a means of showing the candidates how disappointed they are about the current turf-cutting restrictions.
But what are these restrictions, and why are turf cutters up in arms about them?
TheJournal.ie takes a look at this contentious issue from both sides.
The current state of our bogs
The government funded a four-year report, Boglands, by the European Protection Agency into Ireland’s peatland areas.
It found that though peat soils cover 20 per cent of the national land area, there are no more intact raised bogs in Ireland while very few peatlands remain in their natural state.
The current area of active raised bog stands at 2,000 ha, less than 6 per cent of the protected raised bog area.
It is estimated that between 2 per cent and 4 per cent (40–80 ha) of this active area is being lost every year mainly as a result of turf cutting.
Even if turf cutting was stopped, peat oxidation would continue (due to drainage) unless measures were employed to stop and revert this.
According to the document, peatlands are “Ireland’s last great area of wilderness” and the management of the peatlands was not sustainable in either past or present time.
It also says that disturbances in the form of industrial and domestic peat extraction, private afforestation, overgrazing, wind farms and recreational activities “have had and are having major negative impacts on the hydrology and ecology of these habitats”.
It says that people attach a social value to the domestic cutting of peat and “do not always recognise a contradiction with peatland preservation”.
The study identified:
considerable ambiguity and lack of understanding as to the significance of the peatland resource and, in particular, its role in provision of ecosystem services.
It suggests it is time to open the debate and actively involve the public; to form a Peatland Strategy Group and peatland awareness programmes.
It also believes the creation of a National Peatland Park deserves serious consideration and support from the Government.
EU Habitats Directive
The Habitats Directive forms the cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy.
It is built around the Natura 2000 network of protected sites and the strict system of species protection.
There are over 1500 raised bogs in Ireland and only 139 of these have been designated for nature protection within 130 sites.
The European Commission has been critical of Ireland’s approach to the protection of peatland habitat and first initiated infringement proceedings against Ireland in 1999. It again began proceedings in January this year.
The Government took decisive action, in relation to the cessation of turf cutting on 53 designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) raised bogs, to ensure that Ireland would not be subject to legal action and potentially serious fines in the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has twice met with EU Environment Commissioner Potočnik to discuss the matter.
The Government has held a consistent line on this issue since taking office – that all cutting must cease on Ireland’s 53 designated raised bog SACs.
This was also what all members of the Peatlands Council (see below) agreed to in their statement of 1 June this year.
Biodiversity and the environment
The bogs support rare and threatened species and Boglands says the ongoing degradation of Irish peatlands “equates to a loss of biodiversity at regional, national and international levels”.
Natural peatlands act as a long-term carbon store, which means it helps actively remove carbon from the atmosphere.
However, this is reversed and carbon is actually released when the peatland is damaged.
The vast majority of Irish peatlands are critically at risk of future disturbances, such as climate change.
Half of Ireland’s raised bogs were destroyed (at a rate of 800,000 tons per year) between 1814 and 1946.
After World War 2, the government set up Bord na Móna to cut peat by mechanical means. In 1969, there were just 100,000 hectares of raised-bog left in Ireland, of which Bord na Móna owned 45,000 hectares.
The restrictions
In 1999, The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera TD, and the Minister of State at her department, Eamon O Cuiv TD, held a series of consultations with representatives of the farm organisations and turf cutters.
That year, they announced the arrangements for the cessation of turf cutting on raised bogs which are proposed as SACs.
In 2009, bog cutting was reversed by the then Minister for the Environment, John Gormley.
In May 2010, the Government confirmed the ending of the derogation which allowed a 10-year continuation of turf-cutting for domestic purposes on raised bog SACs and NHAs.
Cutting is no longer permitted on the first 31 of these sites without the express consent of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The Government has also decided that cutting will cease on a further 24 raised bog SACs from the end of this year and on 75 raised bog NHAs in 2013.
The Government decision related to domestic cutting applies on selected raised bog protected sites – not blanket bogs, which are much more extensive in area. However, restrictions introduced in 1999 relating to turf-cutting on designated blanket bogs continue to apply.
It is not possible to reconsider this matter as Ireland has a clear legal obligation to protect these sites and to fail to do so would render the State liable to significant financial sanctions imposed by the European Court of Justice, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht told TheJournal.ie.
Turf cutters
But what do the turf cutters think?
Turbary, or the right of private individuals to cut turf for domestic use, has taken place in Ireland since the 15th century.
The Irish Turf Cutters’ and Contractors’ Association was founded in 1998 by Paddy Concannon. Its members oppose the ban and have protested numerous times around Ireland about the situation.
The government has offered turf cutters compensation of €1000 per year for 15 years.
Just under €200,000 was paid out in 2010 to ensure those affected had the means to provide alternative winter fuel.
The ITCCA members are not happy with this compensation offer and say that some members have not yet been paid compensation they were promised under previous schemes.
The EPA Boglands report says that in the case of ongoing turf cutting on protected sites, acquisition would be a better option and better value for money than compensation.
Some members have said they are willing to go to jail in their fight for their land.
For them, turf cutting is a tradition handed down over centuries from family member to family member, and preventing people from cutting turf on their own land, for domestic use, is unfair and leaves people without fuel.
The TCCA proposes the following solution:
The Peatlands Council
In April of this year, the government established an independent Peatlands Council.
The Peatland Council is tasked with advising the Government on drawing up a national strategy on Peatlands conservation and management in consultation with bog owners and other stakeholders.
It is also drawing up an agreed national code of environmental practice in regard to turf-extraction in designated sites.
Turf cutters continue to protest the ban.
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Do not give a private organisation public funds unless there will be some public ownership. After forking out 50 million on pairc ui caoimh, not 1% belongs to the public. Sick of this corporate welfare. Heineken where able to buy out a profitable competitor and close it down. To get its hand on the site why don’t they cough up the cash.
Heineken have sold their share of the site to BAM.
The reasoning behind the government backing it without part ownership is that everything they invest they’ll get back through indirect tax builders prsi etc.. it’s worth 17million to the economy year on year ,that’s what Coveney was saying anyway on the radio.
The real scandal here is the €30m gift that was given to Pairc ui Chaoimh / GAA which gives them an income stream for the next 40 years from matches, concerts, conference … all for promising to hold one or two rugby games, which if they do happen, the GAA will charge extortionate rent to allow happen.
and do you think if the gaa wanted to use the aviva that it would be for free
If we won the bid for the 2023 world cup , it’d be worth around 2billion to the economy. All those matches concerts and conferences would contribute big money to the local economy as well. It’s about time cork has some decent investment in infrastructure. There is literally nothing there now!!
2 billion to the economy? Maybe in the press release for the bid but I seriously doubt it contribute a tenth of that. Look at Brazil and south Africa both where fleeced for hosting the world cup with not much to show for it. Let’s build a north ring road, a few hospitals before we build things that will be used once or twice a year
That was football and they’re two countries that had to build brand new stadiums and infrastructure. We have the stadiums and infrastructure in place. It was worth over a billion to new Zealand economy in 2011, who didn’t have to build anything stadiums either, so take into account inflation, increased interest in the sport, the amount of jobs it would create, I reckon the 2billion would be accurate enough. When has Ireland built roads that weren’t funded by the eu? the orthopaedic hospital is a fine building and they shut it, the south infirmary has no a&e now and the mercy’s a&e has been scaled back tenfold so the hospitals are there they just need to be managed properly. I agree with you cork needs all those things but it also needs a decent stadium and an events centre. The events centre will be in use at least 3times a week as well to make it profitable. Live nation the company taking control have said that’s the minimum it’d take to make it profitable. If the park brings in the likes of Springsteen a handful of times a year it’s well worth it to the local economy. Improving the stadium would also bring more Munster finals and even a replay or two as well.
Get the finger out lads. Get it built. #cork needs it
It’s the worst place to build an event centre, surrounded by narrow streets and one way systems. The whole site will become a student village.
It’s a pity o Callaghan properties didn’t get it,I feel it would of being up and running a few years now,it’s actually a wind up that no construction has started yet
I think every contractor who has worked for BAM in the past has a very good notion what is going on, who is delaying it and why it’s taking so long.
@Guybrush Threepwood:
Aren’t BAM the winning contractor in the National Childrens hospital also, which has also mysteriously increased in price by €400 million.
This is pitiful. City council in cork couldn’t get a helium balloon off the ground. A city’s vibrancy depends on a venue like this, and cork sorely needs it. The population of the city has hardly grown in the last 40yrs, a terrible indictment. It’s tumbleweed barre Friday Saturday nights. This is the opportunity to energise the city midweek. City council has an innate fear of progress…Oh, so like there might be large crowds in the city centre midweek…noooo down with that sort a thing. Pathetic
Why should a event centre be funded by the tax payer ??? There are more important issues in the country that need funding !
This event centre has the potential to deliver many millions not only for the local Cork region but for the state in increased spend by event tourism,just look at the numbers the Marquee concerts attract every summer,and why not raise the extra finance needed through crowd funding or kickstarter,i and many others would support such a venture, its a no brainer.
Cant believe places like the Lobby and especially Sir Henrys went. That was a great night club! Why did they do it?? Sir Henrys was iconic. The site for this new centre is great. Stones throw from city centre and located near Finbarrs. Hope it happens.
The naievety of the press and the public on this matter is astounding.
Firstly, the site is unsuitable. Desireable but ultimately unworkable.
Take a look at the trafgic chaos at 8.45am and 5.30pm on the Grand Parade/Washington St and ask yourself how it would be possible to accommodate an extra 2000 cars – where would they all park ?
Secondly, the proposed capacity is too small. The CEO of Live Nation (then Clear Channel) told me at a meeting in 2005 that any Cork events centre would need to be from 6500 – 8000 seats to be commercially viable – otherwise it would only ever draw 2nd rate artists, or the ticket prices would be ubworkable. We subsequently saw the old Point Depot grow from 5000 to 12500 seats.
Thirdly, Joe Gavin, our ex City Manager proferred up to €8m of City Council money towards such a centre, but, as an equity investment, for a share of ownership. That was awarded to the now insolvent Howard Holdings for the site on the Marina.
Our proposal for an 8500 seat centre in the old Showgrounds site in conjunction with the Munter Agricultural Society was shot down by Joe Gavin at the deciding council meeting.
Live Nation (Clear Channel) have sonce thrown their weight behind various projects/suggestions, all of low seat numbers – why would they want to split artists runs between two venues ( with double set-up costs etc) when they could keep everything in the 3Arena with No real competition ?
South Main street is wrong – BAM look like they mainly want to biuld accommodation and get the taxpayer to pay for it. A small centre will fail and kill off the Opera House & Everyman Theatre.
The city has now given away half the Showgrounds for c€1m to the GAA (Even though they paid the Munster Agricultural Society over €11.5m for the site).
There is still one site in Cork city suitable for this centre, with access, parking and enough space for equipment delivery and storage , but the right parties with the right motovation have to be
involved or Cork will still be waiting in another 20 years and at the mercy of commercial greed and manipulation of those who monopolise this industry.
We have already been SHAFTED by the DAA and Norwegian Air and the government because they must have known of the Dublin / Shannon flights yet it was projected as Cork 1st International connection. Basically we were used as a Trojan Horse under the nose of our local politicians who seem to me to be headless or asleep.
You lost me there Tony.
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: he is talking about the Dublin airport authority which run cork airport… and its lack of flights to anywhere… again more cork people heading eastwards to travel anywhere… our city is blocked on all fronts by vested interests sadly…
Let’s not mention trying to park 2000 cars..that’s 3 people per car..on that Warren of little streets in the area.
The 12 million was allegedly earmarked for more dressing rooms and a larger crew area for sets and extra rigging, if they ever wanted to hold attract international acts like Disney on Ice etc.
To go and then apply for planning for extra student accommodation puts a new slant on the affair as this suggests the 12 million will be used not for purpose.
Either way it be benefits the developer personally.
If they want another 12million I would suggest it be as a top up of the taxpayers initial ” investment ” making the taxpayer a very healthy percentage partner. This makes it more palatable than just handing it over and being told you’ll get it back in taxation prsi and footfall over the next ” how-many ” years etc etc
The archeological dig hasn’t started properly yet so that’ll add another delay as this area was the once great South Gate to the original city.
I sincerely hope it goes ahead as it’s well needed as I’m broke from driving to Dublin for gigs.
I think there’s a long road ahead though with many more twists and turns.
On a Side note It’ll be exciting times for developing in that part of the city as BAM also have planning for a hotel and offices in the old tax office across the bridge from the ” event Centre” and there’s a new development planned for the Brooke’s building on south terrace. Busy times ahead
Heineken dumped on BAM and they are blackmailing the council because development costa in Ireland are crazy. Nothing is ever built on budget.
Build it somewhere else. Beamish & Crawford is an iconic building and should not be dwarfed by this monstrosity. It is the wrong site and I do not see why €30 million of scarce public money should be given to BAM for a project which will only create further headaches for the city. Access is woeful, parking totally inadequate. If being built at all it should be built on the outskirts of the city, somewhere close, for instance, to the Park & Ride on the Kinsale Road with free shuttle buses. Cork City Council is itself in dire straits, is not building enough social housing (despite Coveney’s media hype) and has more important priorities. It also owns its own, admittedly small concert hall and has a major role in the not-for profit Cork Opera House. The Opera House is an important part of Cork city’s cultural life yet has been struggling for years. It will almost certainly go under if the event centre goes ahead. In the 1990s politician after politician was lining up looking for public funding to be put into the Green Glen’s Arena in Millstreet,. Cork City Council also put money into Cork Swansea Ferries – twice – where are they now? This will become a bottomless pit. The last two years of wrangling and missed deadlines should serve as a warning.
There’s been nothing done with the event centre site since there was talk of the marina being back on the agenda. It’s going to become a honeypot for BAM as the government will throw money at it until it’s complete.
Harder to explain the delay when the massive shopping centre right in the centre of the city absolutely flew up.
Another point is that if they are trying to fit more student accommodation and a multi purpose venue then it is clear that there aren’t even plans at this stage for the convention centre, are they going to start throwing up walls and hope for the best.
This is going to take a load from Simon Coveney’s fighter jet money
have your say