I listened carefully to the Minister's answer to my colleague Deputy Kenny. The principal issue of the categorisation of the land parcels still stands. The measure aims to protect peat but the classification of all parcels of land with more than 50% peat soils being subject to GAEC will severely disadvantage farmers across Mayo and the western seaboard. I heard the Minister deny that but 100,000 ha of mineral soils are being wrongly classified. Commission officials whom the INHFA met last week confirmed that this type of classification is not legally required. Will the Minister and his Department find a solution to this major issue? The Commission said it could be redlined and managed differently. Will the Minister submit an amendment to address these well-founded concerns? Will he commit that the Department will create an appeals process?

Sentiment score: 0.05

We want to work with the Minister on this matter, but he must understand that there is a legacy of mistrust. I come from a severely designated area where people now cannot get planning permissions. It is getting worse with planning permission refusals these days because something is an NHA or an SAC. Parts of Mayo, including lands around Carrowteige and the Mullet Peninsula, for example, are being actively depopulated. I do not want the same thing to happen again.

Sentiment score: -0.12