Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Horgan is very welcome. I thank him for coming and offer him every good wish in the chairmanship of Bord na Móna.

I would not be inclined to include on my CV the fact that I was a member of a troika, although his was a more benevolent and beneficial troika in the 1990s than the current one.

Mr. Horgan says he has full confidence in the senior management of the company. I am aware that many in the workforce do not share that confidence. There are allegations of widespread bullying. Some in the workforce argue that while the weather is a factor in the current crisis facing Bord na Móna, mismanagement is also a major factor. Some argue that unless those problems are addressed, possibly by an independent investigation, nothing will change. I would like to hear Mr. Horgan's comments on that.

Mr. Horgan, rightly, says the company is at a crossroads and needs to diversify its activities in order to secure a sustainable future. Does he envisage Bord na Móna moving completely away from peat production? Has he looked at the percentages for peat production compared with wind energy production? Has he projected those ratios over the next five, ten or 15 years or does he propose to do that? What are the main challenges Bord na Móna will face as it diversifies in the future?

We understand the effect of this year's poor peat harvest. In his report, Mr. Horgan said this would have an adverse effect for the next number of years. Has that effect been quantified?

Bord na Móna made a loss of €2.9 million last year. This appears to be due to a write-down of AES. I am struggling to understand the rationale of a company like Bord na Móna getting involved in the waste business. Has Mr. Horgan considered disposing of AES, or will it continue to impact adversely on the company's profit and loss situation for 2012 and subsequent years? What impact will that have on whatever dividend will be paid to the State?

I think I am correct in saying Bord na Móna has more than 2,000 employees. Are there projections for the number of employees Bord na Móna will have in the future? Will the number of employees increase or decline as the company diversifies?

I thank Mr. Horgan.