Council to write to Taoiseach over turf sale ban proposal

Emotions ran high during a lengthy debate on the proposed ban on the sale of turf at the monthly meeting of Westmeath County Council on Monday last. The chairman, Cllr Frankie Keena headed the debate when he asked that standing orders be suspended to deal with the matter.

Cllr Keena called on the council to write to the Taoiseach, Michael Martin, the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar and Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan demanding that this proposal be taken off the agenda until people are enabled to retrofit their homes.

Members joined the chairman in condemning any such move in the midst of a fuel crisis with the cost of living soaring. They condemned also the attack on rural Ireland, its traditions and way of life.

Green Party members, Hazel Smyth and Louise Heavin put forward a counter-proposal asking that the letter include a call for a peatland strategy for the country. They spoke of the need to preserve bogs and to cut back on greenhouse emissions.

The Green Party counter-proposal was defeated by 16 votes to two and the chairman’s proposal was carried.