Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First, the Deputy should not have the impression that there was no anticipation. For example, on the regional enterprise strategy, in my previous role I set up the concept of having regional enterprise plans and, at the heart of that, was the just transition. That was in place long before this particular problem. The regional skills forums are also established and they recognise this is a key challenge. When I went to the area recently, I met both those who are driving the regional enterprise strategy and the regional skills strategy to make sure they would be capable of providing, for example, the upskilling that is needed for people to switch, if they are going to switch from work on the bogs to work in retrofitting. Skills programmes will be put in place to ensure people can make that transition.

The Deputy asks why everything is not in place. This decision was not expected. The expectation had been that co-firing would continue but we have moved very swiftly to ensure there is money available and that we have a programme which is relevant and which requires a skill set or similar. We have also received permission, which is at its final stages, to repurpose the PSO in order that many of the workers in Bord na Móna will be able to continue working on restoring bogs to a much higher level than would have occurred had Bord na Móna simply fulfilled its licence obligations. It is part of a strategy to make sure that the asset of the bogs is fully exploited in terms of its capacity to absorb carbon. A higher level of restoration is necessary to do that and we will be able to deliver that.

The reason responsibility for industrial relations has not been given to the just transition commissioner is that we have established models for dealing with industrial relations through joint industrial councils and referrals to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, and to the Labour Court. Those are tried and trusted methods. The head of the WRC, Liam Kelly, is someone with immense experience. We have those resources. I know that because Kieran Mulvey had been in the WRC, some people would say that, naturally, he should be doing industrial relations. However, the truth is he is retired from that and there is a new executive and a new WRC in place. It would be not be right to seek to have a just transition commissioner, who is trying to deal with the new elements of this, usurping the role of a long-established body such as the WRC or the Labour Court, as appropriate. That is why there is that approach.

The terms of reference are there. I have met the unions and I have met the company. I know there are difficulties and the company, the workers and the unions will have to work through those difficulties. I also met Patricia King and I understand the frustrations and the concerns. It is fair to say that having a just transition commissioner is something that is generally welcomed; the unions were pleased that I moved swiftly on that. I believe they recognise this is a good step forward. Of course, there are difficulties. I am the first to recognise that many people felt they had a long transition of seven or eight years on which they could bank but that has now been disrupted and we are trying to manage it as best we can.