Turbary Rights
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Sarah O'Reilly (AON), Agricultural Panel

I appreciate the Minister of State's reply but the central issue remains unresolved. The turf-cutting season is happening now. Every passing week makes it less likely that turf will be saved in time for winter. If this injunction remains in place, these families will face cold homes and unaffordable heating costs. It is their only means of heating their homes. I have people in their 80s writing to me.
The Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, did not address the people who did not sign up to the scheme. He spoke the entire time about the people who signed up to the scheme but he did not mention the people who did not. It was supposed to be a voluntary scheme but, by design, it was mandatory. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, has options available to him. He can return to the High Court and lift the injunction or he can use the ARC process to allow turf-cutting activities to proceed lawfully. People in Galway are made to believe it was their choice if they participated in the restoration scheme and now they have been cut off from accessing turf.
I want to make a complaint about the fact that neither the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, nor the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, will address this. The latter has not come before the Seanad to address this issue and he has not answered parliamentary questions either. That has to be addressed.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:57+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14