Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says the absurd situation is like something from Hall’s Pictorial Weekly. Deputy Tóibín said: “You couldn’t make it up. This week, the European Commission is taking us to court over cutting too much turf – next week, we sign up for the EU Migration Pact.
“The Fine Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents government opted into the Pact, when it could have opted out .It will leave us on the hook for billions. It outsources decisions on planning and numbers. And if we tried to opt out now, it will cost us as much in fines.
“The Government volunteered for this. Now the thanks Ireland gets from the EU is being taken to court over failing to come down heavy on small, local turf cutters.”
“Ireland has done a lot of work on regulating turf, but it needs to be balanced with how turf is also part of Ireland’s heritage and culture. Should we be sued for that?”
The Meath West deputy has been a leading voice in opposition to the opting in to the Migration Pact, which comes into force next Friday (June 12).
He has said: “This is a big mistake for Ireland as it fails to account for our open border with the north.
“The EU Migration pact is bad for Ireland. It outsources decisions and locks us into them. It does nothing to address the 80% of people coming here from Britain through the north.”
