The European Commission has referred Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to stop illegal peat cutting without environmental impact assessments. The EU says significant peat extraction is happening without planning permission or EIAs, especially on sites under 50 acres, and local enforcement has been insufficient. Degraded bogs emit millions of tonnes of carbon annually, while intact bogs act as natural carbon sinks. Aontu leader Peadar Tobin called the referral a 'farce' and argued that turf cutting is part of Irish heritage. Environmental groups like the Environmental Pillar welcomed the move, noting that Ireland has been dragging its feet on compliance. The EPA previously found 38 large-scale operations engaged in illegal extraction with an export trade worth 40 million euros per year. The dispute dates back to 1985 when the first EIA rules were enacted.
