Flanagan heralds positive sustainable future for Peatlands

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, has today (Monday) opened the International Peat Society conference in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co. Offaly.

Opening the conference Minister Flanagan stated:

“By the time Ireland achieved its independence, the midlands was one of the most under-developed regions in the country and prospects for development seemed particularly unpromising. However the region had a resource which you can see all around you no matter where you look. I refer of course to the great peat bogs of the midlands.

“Peat and peatlands are hugely important for all sorts of reasons – as ecosystem, as habitat and as resource. Our peatlands are also a source of artistic inspiration. Our bogs have touched Irish imagination and sentiment; they influenced our literature, coloured our poetry and called across the seas to our emigrants.

“1946 saw the Turf Development Board transformed into Bord na  Móna.The story of Bord na Móna is a great example of what can be achieved in regional development. The company was the foundation upon which the local economy was built.

“Ireland is committed to playing its part in safeguarding Europe’s fragile natural resources and addressing the major environmental challenges faced by mankind. Where domestic turf cutters are exercising traditional rights in designated areas, we have established a scheme of compensation to encourage cessation of cutting. There is also a relocation project designed to find new sites for private turf cutters who have relocated from designated bogs.

“The key challenge for Ireland is to ensure successful conservation and restoration of our most valuable areas of peatland, while permitting some continued exploitation of peatlands of lesser ecological significance. 

“This innovative conference will be an opportunity to ensure that these issues will be thoroughly discussed and debated. From wise use to responsible use, from sustainability to eco-system services, the many and varied perspectives and viewpoints will be asked to come together to have a real conversation about the way forward.”