Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. I concur with the previous speakers in commending the Chairman, who has been extremely vocal on this issue in the Dáil and elsewhere. I have read the reports prepared by the witnesses. I am shocked by the seemingly decimating impacts of the changes relating to peat extraction on the Irish horticulture industry. It is evident that many jobs will be lost and small and medium growers in horticulture will be made uncompetitive. All present agree with the aim of moving from burning large amounts of peat for electricity generation, but it seems that no thought was given to a transition period for Irish tree, shrub, flower or other plant growers.

Nurseries in the south, including west Cork, the west and the north of Ireland and small, sustainable green enterprises seem to be the most vulnerable. I have been told by many growers that before research is carried out or any other solutions get investigated, the immediate loss of peat without a transition period will put them out of business in less than two years. These are small, family-run operations that were supported by Irish peat. I am disturbed and worried by what seems to be nothing short of a fiasco. We need legislation to define peat extraction for horticulture.

It seems to me that the green solution in this country is to withdraw products from shelves. That has been happening quite a lot for the past seven or eight months. It is not a solution. One has to have something ready at hand so as to avoid putting people into a crisis such as this.

My questions are more for Mr. Gleeson and the Kildare Growers Group. Obviously, if the other witnesses wish to reply, they are welcome to do so. Why can plants not be grown in containers using soil or a mix of products including green waste instead of peat? Can the Kildare Growers Group or the Irish nursery industry survive or be in any way competitive if they have to import peat from Baltic states or elsewhere? What is the realistic timeframe for the industry to transition to low-peat or peat-free production from a commercial production point of view? Reports produced by Teagasc indicate it will take a minimum of five to ten years to so do.