Those who believe that all is well on the bogs and wetlands of Ireland had better think again. There is a lot of unrest over the issue of Special Areas of Conservation.
This was evident in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Athlone, on Sunday, when groups opposed to the restrictions being imposed by SACs came together to discuss their problems.
The groups came mainly from the midlands and west, where bog owners have been told they cannot cut turf in certain sensitive areas.
They also came from the Shannon Callows, where some farmers are anxious about the conditions they will have to work with when the designated areas are put in place.
Also represented was the River Suck Action Group, whose members farm the turloughs of the west and believe their difficulties are misunderstood.
Members of Clara Bog Action Group, incensed at the limitations being placed on their turf-cutting, were there, together with the Connemara Limestone Pavement Group.
At the end of the day, the SAC action groups decided to amalgamate to bring pressure on the Department of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands to sort out the problems they feel the National Parks and Wildlife Service has not addressed.
The new SAC action group alliance, which is not amalgamated to any of the mainline farm organisations and is non-political, has demanded the continuation of turf cutting as a right.
Its second demand is a constitutional one. It wants the right to use property and land the way members want to use it, not at the dictate of Dublin or Brussels.
It was also decided that members must meet the Minister for Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, on the basis that they felt proper consultation with the groups had not taken place.
The mood of the meeting was angry and the feeling was that there was a complete lack of satisfactory action by the Department. Turf-cutting and related activities would continue regardless.
The group also demanded the assistance of the Minister of State, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, to work with members to avert the crisis which they feel will flow from the current situation.
Finally, the alliance, which will be chaired by Mr Michael Mulleady, of Ballinagare, Co Roscommon, appealed to other SAC action groups with problems to contact Mr Mulleady. His telephone number is 0907-70013