12th June 2026
This morning on the Greg Hughes Show the European Commission’s decision to take Ireland to the ECJ claiming a failure to implement enforcement of EU Rules when it comes to peat cutting opened the show with Seamus Gunn. He referenced that this matter has been ongoing for some considerable time as formal notice issued from 2019 followed by an opinion and now this was at the referral stage. Greg Hughes was interested in what the ramifications would be for the country. Gunn referenced the latest legislation of 2022 in respect of peat cutting on raised bogs which was brought in under a Smokeless Fuel Scheme through a Statutory Instrument. He said that traditional peat cutting which has been part of Irish heritage remains legal but that large commercial enterprises for the extraction of peat and sale in special areas of conservation and national heritage areas were prohibited. He said that there were now strict rules in place referencing Environmental Impact Legislation which was initially brought in by the EU and which Ireland has been slow to implement and enforce. He said that the tradition of turbary rights should not be jeopardised but that the EU were focused on the Irish compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and the alleged default on the part of the State herein. He said that the fines could be significant and referenced a previous windfarm case in the West of Ireland in 2003 when a peat landslide gave rise to a case taken by the EU against the State which resulted in a fine of € 5 million with € 15,000.00 per day for continuing breaches which ultimately led to a total levy of around € 17 million out of State coffers. Greg Hughes made the interesting point that fossil fuels, peat briquettes, etc, are being imported from as far afield as Egypt and many other countries. Gunn thought that this would not attract the attention of the EU as they would meet the smokeless fuel criteria, Greg Hughes said that ultimately it is the taxpayer that pays, though Gunn said that the fine was initially collectable from the State. He said that it could result in further stringent implementation and enforcement going forward.
This topical subject may touch a cord with many traditionalists in rural Ireland.
The full interview and Q&A that followed can be listened to below: