Turf wars in Mayo County Council as Maxwell accused of conflict of interest after bringing bag of turf into chamber

A WEST Mayo councillor has defended his decision to bring a bag of turf into the council chamber to highlight concerns regarding any proposal to ban the burning and cutting of turf.

Independent Ireland councillor and general election candidate, Chris Maxwell was accused of having a conflict of interest in bringing up the issue at yesterday's monthly meeting of Mayo County Council on the grounds he is a commercial turf cutting.

The Louisburgh-based councillor and Independent councillor Patsy O'Brien both brought the bag of 'hopper' turf into the council chamber before the meeting and left it at the top desk of the council executive.

Cllr Maxwell told the meeting that there were real fears among his constituents regarding any future plans to ban the burning of turf while Cllr O'Brien, who is running as an Independent candidate in the general election, claimed that 'heat police' will be deployed to ensure nobody is burning turf or solid fuel.

However, the stunt angered Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn who said that the item was not on the agenda. He claimed that Cllr Maxwell had a conflict of interest and he should have removed himself from the chamber.

“It is remarkable that two candidates who have declared for election are now coming in here and talking about turf. It is ridiculous to be quite honest with you. I have particular difficulty with Cllr Maxwell ... people who are in the business as a contractor who have a financial gain should declare a conflict an interest and be removing themselves from the council chamber. They certainly should not be bringing this into the public arena and making a political matter that could turn into a financial gain. I have great difficulty with that and I want to put that on the record,” he said.

Response

In response, Cllr Maxwell said that he has been cutting turf since he was 14 years of age and he will not be silenced into bringing up the subject on behalf of his constituents.

“I have been cutting turf in the west of Ireland for people who expected me to do it and need it to be done. We did it by hand, by sausage machine and by hopper and it is a way of life. If the chief whip from Fine Gael thinks that there is a major issue with cutting turf...why would there be a conflict of interest into cutting turf?

“If the chief whip wants to get me removed then I have no issue with it but I have to answer to the people in my constituency over turf cutting. That is what they asked me to do here today and is what I am trying to do. I am trying to get answers and if Fine Gael wants to remove me from the chamber, well fair enough.”

Earlier, Cllr Maxwell said that hundreds of people have been onto him and his party regarding draft laws on turf cutting which he says will give power to the council and asked what powers the local authority will get from it.

Confusion

Cllr O'Brien said elderly people are confused about the law and believes that if future legislation is passed by the Oireachtas it will mean that turf cutting will no longer be allowed.

The Robeen-based councillor claimed there have been inspections on people bringing turf home from their bogs and questioned the use of resources to carry this out.

“We had a bog in the Claremorris area where over three months people were being inspected and yet we were told that there are not enough people to carry out necessary works within the council. We haven't got enough people in the outdoor staff of the council,” he said.

Fine Gael Ballinrobe-based councillor Michael Burke also criticised Cllr Maxwell's position saying that as an auctioneer himself, he would have to excuse himself from the council chamber if a project which would benefit him was being discussed.

However, Independent councillor Richard Finn defended the Louisburgh councillor, saying that somebody has to cut turf for people and compared him to a shopkeeper providing a general service to the community.

Legislation

Castlebar-based councillor Michael Kilcoyne said that legislation brought through the Dáil will give the local authorities extra powers and it was right for it to be raised. He added that while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives say they are for turf cutting they are doing nothing to protect it.

“There is a proposal being passed by the government – Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens – to outlaw the bag of turf that's there in front of you. They are giving power to the executive of local authorities to enforce it and bring in the 'heat police'. It is very handy to blame the Greens for everything but it would not have gone through if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had not supported it. The people need to be clear and I will say it once. A vote for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is a vote for the bag of turf to go out the door.”

There was no comment from the council executive on any potential powers the local authority may have on the matter.