The European Commission has today announced a further step in legal proceedings against Ireland by delivering a formal request to take urgent and concerted action to protect Ireland’s peat bogs. The reasoned opinion specifically addresses continued mechanical peat extraction on protected peat bogs, which Ireland gave assurances to the European authorities would cease in 1999. The need for environmental impact assessment of potentially damaging activities in peat bogs is also addressed. This was the subject of an EU court of Justice ruling in 1999.

An Taisce has welcomed the Government's initiative of setting up a Peatland Council to try and resolve ongoing rows over the management of peat bogs in Ireland. Ian Lumley, Heritage Officer of An Taisce, attended the first meeting of the Peatlands Council yesterday. Mr Lumley is representing the Irish Environmental Network on the Peatlands Council, which includes representation from the IFA, the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, Irish Rural Link, and the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council.