Mr. Gerry Ryan:

I thank the Chairman. I will deal with biomass first because it came up a number of times. We have examined in considerable detail the possibility of using our land bank to produce or grow biomass. Unfortunately, the efficiency of the crop which is produced relative to the input costs means it is not economically feasible. We have tried on a number of occasions to produce reasonable quantities of a number of different biomass crops on our lands, including willow, alder and miscanthus, but it is not economically feasible to grow it on our land bank after peat production. It would be fantastic for us if we could use the land for that purpose but it is not feasible to do so on an economic basis, unfortunately. Having said that, Bord na Móna has been a champion of the use of biomass in the energy sector in Ireland. In our Edenderry power station in County Offaly, more than 20% of the energy produced comes from biomass which is sourced almost entirely from within the Irish market. We also have a programme to encourage farmers to grow biomass on our behalf for use in the power station in Edenderry. That is on a small scale at the moment. It would be very helpful if more supports were available from the State in the context of renewable energy in general. Nevertheless, we have a programme up and running and a small number of farmers have undertaken to grow biomass on our behalf for use in the power station. Unfortunately, using our own land for biomass production is not an economically feasible proposition.

On wind energy, we have conducted a number of studies and developed two major wind energy farms in Mount Lucas and Bruckana in the midlands on our own lands, based on the normal planning regulations and permissions which apply. They are nearing completion and are very successful. Of course we do not envisage a situation where all the 80,000 hectares will be covered with wind farms, and the picture was certainly not meant to convey that. The vast majority of our land will be wetland of the type described by Mr. Ring and Dr. Farrell, and I will ask them to comment on that aspect.