A local TD has branded EU proposals for the re-wetting of farmed drained peatlands as a 'mad law'.
Independent TD for Roscommon Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice, believes the plan that would see 70 percent of the worked drained lands re-wet by 2050 would be a fatal blow to the country's agri-industry.
The EUs Nature Restoration law would see Ireland required to re-wet over 210,000 hectares of land by 2050, if passed.
The independent deputy told the Joe Finnegan Show that the plans would see a massive drain in rural Ireland and the move of the population to the cities.
Deputy Fitzmaurice says no one should support such a proposal.
"If your land or my land is re-wetted, firstly I can head off into the city and I won't be listening to Joe Finnegan on the local radio. Secondly the local shop, the local hardware, or the local meal merchant or contractor, you won't be going into that field. Those are the consequences they don't seem to understand. These two things together is a million acres that's going to basically be taken out of production and you couldn't press the button in the line there".
