Galway protest over turf cutting restrictions

Independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan has said around 300 people took part in a protest in Galway today, as part of a campaign to oppose restrictions on the cutting of turf on raised bogs. Deputy Flanagan, who is the Public Relations Officer for the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, has said members of the association demonstrated outside the Meyrick Hotel because Presidential candidate Michael D Higgins was due there today. The association has said Mr Higgins was responsible for signing into law the designation of bogs as protected areas. A spokesperson for Mr Higgins said he had been scheduled to attend an event at the hotel this morning but cancelled this appointment yesterday, as he also had to be in Dublin for an event this afternoon.