Threatening Ireland with legal Ireland action over turf cutting is a "step in the wrong direction", according to a Shannonside TD.
The European Commission said unless action is taken to half the cutting of peat within Special Areas of Conservation, the state could be brought before the European Court of Justice.
It noted Ireland's efforts so far but said the enforcement of bans “appears to have stalled”.
Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice says threatening legal action sours relations between the two parties:
"There are resolutions. We are working together with the national part in doing them. There is a good merit in the relationship but there's a fear at the moment that because of this press release, because of what they're threatening, they will drive the whole process back".
