The price of oil which has recently reached $110 per barrel had considerably enhanced the value of traditional turf cutting in many parts of Ireland.

This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin in the European Parliament when she called for full compensation for people whose right to cut turf was now restricted by EU legislation.

“Irish turf-cutters and bog owners are now being asked to cease cutting turf for personal use.  This situation has arisen because of the unrestricted industrial and commercial turf cutting right across the EU, which has resulted in virtually all of Europe’s raised bogs being destroyed.   It is vitally important to understand that for many Irish people., both rural and urban, turf cutting has been practised for generations.  These people should not be made to pay the price for the destruction of bogs by others.  Also, given that oil is now fetching approximately $110 per barrel, we can see that turf is now a very valuable economic resource for the individuals concerned.

“In this context, at national level there must be full compensation for the loss of turf cutting rights, and flexible arrangements will have to be put in place so that we can balance the rights of owners against the need to conserve the raised bogs”, Marian Harkin concluded.