Peat harvesting and court ruling
Deputy Cowen asked whether legislation would follow a High Court ruling affecting peat harvesting under EPA licences and warned of job losses. The Minister said operators would need substitute permission from An Bord Pleanála and confirmed he had answered in the negative on new legislation.
Will the Government introduce new legislation to counteract the High Court’s suppression of statutory instruments introduced earlier this year, which had sought to allow the horticultural sector to harvest peat on foot of Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, licences? If such legislation is not brought forward, there will be no harvesting come March and 4,000 more jobs associated with the harvesting of horticultural peat in particular will be lost.
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It is my understanding that, under the ruling of the courts, the options available are to apply for substitute permission from An Bord Pleanála-----
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-----and that would be the arrangements through which operators would regularise their activities.
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So the Minister will not bring forward legislation to counteract the decision. That is all I want him to tell me in order that I can relay the relevant information to those people who will be affected by his inaction. Is that the factual position?
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I have answered Deputy Cowen's question.
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The Minister has answered my question in the negative.