According to data released by the Minister for Agriculture, 392,853 tonnes of peat were exported from Ireland last year, along with 58,000 tonnes in the first two months of this year. The Minister has also confirmed that 2022 saw 32,000 tonnes of peat imported from Canada, Germany, Britain, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Aontú leader and Meath West TD, Deputy Peadar Tóibín TD said peat regulations have threatened farmers, food producers and small turf cutters in rural Ireland. He also highlighted how beef imports - as a result of the Mercosur Trade deal are contributing to carbon emissions and leading to the destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest.
Deputy Tóibín added that these latest developments "make no sense" from an environmental perspective or from the view point of a small farmer.
""his is truly hard to comprehend. We have a situation where the Government - with the Greens representing the tail that is wagging the dog - clamping down hard and threatening farmers and small turf cutters in rural Ireland while all the while importing and exporting like there's no tomorrow at a huge cost to the environment.
"It seems the Government doesn't want turf being cut or peat being harvested on this island, but they'll give you the thumbs up if you own an acre of bog in Lithuania or Germany. It makes no sense from an environmental perspective, given the added emissions associated with transporting the peat into this country from afar," said Deputy Tóibín.
