THE imposition of conservation orders on land without consulting farmers was deplored by Fianna Fail. In private members' time, the party's spokeswoman on heritage, Ms Sile de Valera, said national heritage areas would cover 750,000 acres, about 7 per cent of the total land surface of the State, affecting 5,000 farmers. Special Areas of Conservation status would apply to 1,200 sites and involve thousands of landowners.
"We accept the need for conservation and sustainable farming methods and, like many others, we are extremely concerned that over 2 million acres of peatland have already been damaged."
While recognising something must be done, however, Fianna Fail believed farmers and local communities would have to be accommodated. "They cannot be trampled on. They have to become a social partner in the process. The Labonr, Party makes much of their respect for social partners in the talks on national agreements. Farmers are one of those partners but they are, not being treated as such on this."
The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht was "casting himself as some sort of a new Cromwell, trying to take land over without consultation or compensation". Mr Higgins said there was no element of seeking to slip in the regulations by the back door.
Even before the Government approved the regulations last June, he and his officials were involved in consultations with groups which would be affected by them.
The regulations were to give effect to an EU directive. The need to preserve nature was recognised at world level, because biodiversity was under threat. A quarter of all existing species were threatened with extinction within 30 years.
In Europe, 22 per cent of higher, plants, 42 per cent of mammals and 52 per cent of fish were thought to be under threat and ecosystems and habitats were being degraded and destroyed.
The debate will resume today.