Turf Cutting Issue Not Being Solved

During leaders question in the Dail on Wednesday I asked the Taoiseach to use his influence to get the EU officials to change their thinking on the whole question of the turf cutting and designation issue. Three people were in court in Loughrea on Wednesday morning for defending their own property which indicates that there has been no solution to this problem. Despite years of huge efforts being made to settle this issue once and for al,l I told the Taoiseach that the people involved would not accept any bullying on the part of European officials. Either people own their own land or they do not. The recent news that Bord na Mona are to stop harvesting on their bogs might also throw up a possible solution as well. I told Enda Kenny that I am prepared to work hard to achieve a solution as I have done for many years past and all we need is good will on the part of the parties involved and some leeway from Europe.