Fitzmaurice claims commission's peat case referral driven by ‘vendetta’
Independent Ireland TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, has hit out at the European Commission's decision to refer Ireland to an EU court because of peat cutting "projects".
The commission today (Thursday, June 4) confirmed it has decided to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union, because it claims that the State has failed to "comply"with environmental rules governing "peat extraction projects".
Under EU law, peat extraction projects that could significantly impact the environment must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
According to the commission these assessments not only ensure public participation but also"guarantee the preservation of peatlands, which play a vital role for both ecological balance and climate mitigation".
However Independent Ireland's agriculture spokesperson believes the decision to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice of the EU is part of a "vendetta" against the likes of milling peat operators in Ireland.
The Roscommon-Galway TD believes it is "disgusting" that the European Commission has referred - what it described as "peat extraction projects" - to the Court of Justice, because Deputy Fitzmaurice believes it has "made a decision already that it is illegal".
The European Commission said today in relation to Ireland it was aware that "there is still significant peat cutting activity, which is not subject to planning permission or environmental impact assessment, especially in relation to sites below 50 hectares".
It stated: "Despite evidence of these ongoing illegal activities, enforcement action at the local level is not being taken.
"The commission considers that efforts by the Irish authorities have been insufficient and is therefore referring Ireland to the Court of Justice of the European Union".
Milling peat
According to Deputy Fitzmaurice he sees the case as a "vendetta" against the likes of the milling peat operators.
He believes that there is no recognition of the role that milling peat plays in Ireland's professional horticultural industry.
Milled peat or casing has traditionally been used for mushroom production.
"Would the environmental lobby prefer the peat come in on a boat to Ireland?
"Will the casing for mushrooms come from Latvia or another country? Does that make sense?" Deputy Fitzmaurice asked.
Environmental groups
However the Environmental Pillar umbrella group, which is made up of 32 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has today welcomed the European Commission's decision to refer Ireland to the Court of Justice.
Fintan Kelly, senior land use officer with the Environmental Pillar, said: “The European Commission’s decision is welcome and necessary.
“Ireland has been dragging its feet on properly complying with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive in relation to industrial peat mining.
"While Ireland has taken some steps, including action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on larger commercial sites and rehabilitation of Bord na Móna lands, the failure of local authorities to regulate other large commercial operators forced the commission to take action".
According to the Environmental Pillar national reporting "puts the total extraction of bogs, both commercial and domestic, at 70,020 hectares".
But it also claimed that "satellite assessment of the midlands bogs alone indicates that peat extraction covers 119,000 hectares—70% higher than what is reported for all peatlands combined".
The Environmental Pillar confirmed that it and a number of member organisations have been engaging with the commission for a long time and said it was "satisfying to see the commission stepping in to uphold the rule of law and safeguard Ireland's peatlands.”
