Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Strategic Plan: Bord na Móna

1:30 pm

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. Bord na Móna is an important State asset. Mr. Quinn outlined that last year, its profits were €33 million. This is quite a turnaround when one looks back at Bord na Móna in 1998 when significant State intervention was needed. I know when the previous Government was listing State companies that were to examine their strategy and appropriate ownership models, Bord na Móna was not included in that list but it has engaged, and rightly so, in this process with the strategic plan, which is very important.

In respect of the ownership model, has Bord na Móna formulated a firm view in this area? Does it want to be privately owned or does it see itself having a different regulatory regime? Last November, it unveiled plans for an additional 210 turbines with the ESB at a cost of €300 million. What stage is this process at? The fact that Bord na Móna is looking at expanding and investing in the forestry industry is very welcome. It is key for Ireland. We cannot afford to be importing materials we could produce here. We talk about our indigenous economy and how it is the backbone of our economy. This is a great opportunity so anything that we can do as a Government to support Bord na Móna in that role is critical because the amount of material we are importing at the moment is not sustainable. Mr. Quinn mentioned the target of 800 to 1,000 jobs in the biomass industry by 2030. Again, this shows how labour-intensive it is. This is our future. If this is how we want to see our country growing, we need to focus on what we can do best. Now is the time to plan, although there is a long-term vision there. I compliment Bord na Móna on that.

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