TCCA PRESS RELEASE
25-OCT-2011
RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION PACKAGE


The TCCA exists to defend the right of  indigenous small scale domestic turf cutters to cut their own turf for their own use, in their own bogs. In its submission to the Government's Working Group dated 17-Jul-2009, the TCCA demonstrated that small scale domestic Turf Cutting and active raised bog habitat conservation can co-exist. Small scale Domestic Turf Cutting is a sustainable use of a local natural resource, which also provides significant rural employment at a time of great need.

Our submission also demonstrated that the state already owns approximately 92% of the Raised Bogs in question and that No Turf whatsoever was cut on those bogs where Active Raised Bog habitat suffered its greatest decline. The submission also identified several bogs where active raised bog habitat increased in the presence of active Domestic Turf Cutting.

The Habitats Directive was enacted to conserve habitat, flora and fauna. Attempts by the Government, the EU and environmentalists to extend the Habitats Directive into the areas of Carbon Accounting, Carbon Emissions and Carbon Trading amount to a perversion of the Directive aimed at ending all private turf cutting on all bogs in Ireland.

Minister Deenihan’s  recent statements on the Turf Cutting issue have been incoherent & incomprehensible and have further confused an already complex situation. Herein, we will attempt to clarify the matter for our supporters, in so far as is possible.

(a) In the Dail on the 18-Oct-2011 while referring to a proposal that the State would provide an annual delivery of turf to those who must stop turf cutting, as an alternative to a financial payment, Minister Deenihan stated, “My Department is now making arrangements to include this as an element of the compensation arrangements.”, thereby giving the impression that 1 “Qualifying” household per Turf Bank would receive free Turf for 15 years.

(b) On “Morning Ireland” the following day the Minister said “ … Turf Cutters that can’t relocate to another Bog will then get a delivery of Turf … ”

(c) Later in the interview the Minister was asked “ … will this be an alternative to the €1,000 compensation scheme ?”.  He answered “It will be …” apparently confirming the impresion that 1 “Qualifying” household per Turf Bank would receive free Turf for 15 years.

(d) However, during the interview he also referred to the delivery of turf as being an “interim measure” which cast doubt over his statements in the Dail the previous day, and earlier in that same interview.

(e) The TCCA sought clarification from the Minister’s own Department and in reply we received a letter of clarification on 19-Oct-2011.

(f) The Department’s letter confirmed that the delivery of Turf is only an “Interim Measure” for 4 years (reviewable).  What good is this to a Turf Cutter who Can’t be Relocated ?   This is not what the Minister told the Dail, and it is not what he said at the beginning of the “Morning Ireland” interview  ! In this respect, the Minister has misled the Dail, and the Irish People !

In the sordid history of the Government’s betrayal & Broken Promises on the Turf Cutting issue, this is a new low.  This Minister’s promise did not last 24 hours !

Bog and Turbary owners looking at the most recent shambles of a package may wish to take the following into account as part of their deliberations ...

1. Many family turf banks support the households of several siblings as a shared resource.  Only one “Qualifying” Household can avail of the annual €1,000 payment or the Delivery of Turf !

2. The Turf value of 1 acre of Raised Bog is circa €280,000. How does an annual payment of €1,000 over 15 years, or a free delivery of Turf for 4 years compensate for the loss of such a valuable resource ?

3. There is NO Statutory Basis for either the €1,000 annuity or the Turf Delivery schemes.  This mean that both schemes can be discontinued by the Government without warning.  A Turf Cutter’s only redress then, would be to sue the Government!

4. More than 500 bog & turbary owners who signed up to a previous Government's "buy out" scheme were NEVER paid ! Even though the owners have not been paid, the Government & EU continue to insist that they must not cut their turf !
This government has recently stated that these Turf Cutters are NOT going to be paid!

5. According to the EU & Government, people who have not Cut Turf in the Previous 5 years, do not “Qualify” for any compensation !  If you accept either scheme and do not cut turf for 5 years, the EU & Government contend that you have forfeited your rights as an Active Turf Cutter.

6. The Government have already repudiated one Relocation Agreement with Turf Cutters, and have broken every other agreement they have made with turf cutters. It  would therefore be ill-advised to sign your rights away on the basis of further Government promises.

7. To avail of either scheme, a Turf Cutter must sign a Consent allowing their bog to be flooded.  Once your bog is flooded, what are your options if the Government abandons or repudiates the compensation schemes ?

8. Having sanctioned the flooding of their bogs, might individual bog & turbary owners be liable for loss of life or damage to the property of others due to flooding or bog slides ?  Many bogs contain "swallow holes", "sink holes" and underground waterways.  Ill-advised interference with these drainage systems or flooding the bogs could result in serious flooding incidents many miles distant from the bog itself.   The Government has not indemnified the signatories to either scheme against any such a potential legal liability !

9. The TCCA will be unable to help Turf Cutters who have signed away their Turf Cutting Rights !

10. If you are in receipt of Farm Payments and you opt for the €1,000 payment for 15 years, or while awaiting relocation,  the €1,000 annuity will be deducted from your Farm Payments.  Therefore, you may receive no net gain in return for surrendering your Turf Cutting Rights.

11. One acre of Raised Bog will heat your home, and the future homes of your
children & grandchildren for in excess of 200 years. With your bog having been flooded by the Government & EU, what will you use for fuel in year 16 ?  Should we sell our children's future and heritage so cheaply ?

12. With an additional 630 sites already identified as Proposed NHAs, and
environmentalists demanding that a further 424 Bogland Sites be Designated as additional SACs, how much turf could you reasonably expect to purchase with €1,000?  

13. Bord Na Mona now controls the import and distribution of all solid fuels in
Ireland. Like the other State Companies, Bord Na Mona will probably be privatised by this Government to help pay for their Bank Bail-Out. This could create a Private Monopoly in the Solid Fuel market. How much will home heating cost us when the market is run by a giant monopoly ?  If Bord Na Mona is privatised, will the new owners continue to supply Minister Deenihan’s “Turf Delivery” scheme ?

14. Our bogs have Carbon Credits attaching to them. These are our property too, and are potentially very valuable. The Government is not proposing to compensate us for the loss of our Carbon Credits. Instead they intend to engage in the "sharp practice" of using the income stream from Our Own carbon credits to help fund the annual €1,000 compensation payment.

15. If you accept the €1,000 annuity, either for the 15 year term or the 4 year Interim Measure, the Government will recoup at least 25% of your compensation payment in VAT, Excise & Carbon Taxes!

Minister Deenihan’s latest compensation scheme is even more shambolic than its predecessors.  It is a desperate attempt to encourage Bog and Turbary owners to sign up to it in haste, and under false pretences.    Those who do, are likely to regret it at their leisure.

Remember!, you can only sell out your, and your descendants Turf Cutting Rights once !, and once sold you will never, ever recover them.

TCCA.
END