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

I thank the representatives for appearing before the committee. My party colleague Deputy Brian Stanley would have been keen to be present because, geographically, he would be more immediately affected by Bord na Móna than me. He cannot be present but I have no doubt he will be buzzing my ear on it when we meet again tomorrow. Please forgive me if some of my questions appear to show a lack of knowledge of the industry.

I find it difficult to have this conversation in the absence of information on the overall financial standing of the company. How many staff are currently employed and how many former employees are on pensions? Perhaps somebody can provide me with that information. I was surprised to hear Mr. Horgan say there is annual planning in terms of Derrinlough and Littleton. Of course there has to be annual planning, but I would have expected it particularly in terms of the joint merger or the joint working between Bord na Móna and Coillte and the establishment of BioEnergy Ireland. I would have viewed that as a hugely exciting opportunity which the company would have been planning for the next decade or decades-----