Close up of Four Courts Image: Semmick Photo via Shutterstock Close up of Four Courts Image: Semmick Photo via Shutterstock THE HIGH COURT has granted an injunction to halt a company from engaging in “unregulated” large-scale peat extraction in the Midlands in breach of strict EU law to protect the environment.
The lands in Co Westmeath where extraction has taken place drain into the River Inny which in turn flows into the nearby Lough Derravaragh that is protected under EU law. She granted the injunction order for these four areas, totalling over 100 hectares. Two areas in counties Cavan and Monaghan totalling over 25 hectares where no peat extraction activity is occurring were not included in the order.Ms Justice Phelan said she was “satisfied on the evidence that HP [Harte Peat Ltd] is carrying out an activity in contravention of the EPA Act” and that the nature of the breach of EU law “cannot be considered as other than material and significant”.
Harte Peat is a major supplier of wet peat to be used as a casing material in the mushroom industry and argued during the January hearing that a decision in favour of the EPA would badly impact the industry. This was supported by affidavits from several members of the mushroom industry. The EPA refused as the company does not have planning permission from the local authority as required prior to seeking EPA licensing. Harte Peat argued it is exempt from the need for planning permission as peat extraction began on the sites in question prior to 1964 when there were no planning requirements.
There will be more turf cut and brought home this year than there has been in years to try heat the house next winter without needing a second mortgage to pay for home heating oil. And I’d say we won’t be the only ones at it either.
It’s a ruling from Brussels.. We have to import peat from Estonia.Apparently a Deal was done.
Just keep importing it from Latvia sure! This country is a joke
Please state which Judge when reporting this stuff. Right IrishLegalNews ? :)