Mr. John Neenan:

Yes, obviously there is an air of nervousness about that and about the outcome. We feel that the law has to be complied with but as it stands, it is impossible. We feel that this is the only legal avenue open to get harvesting in 2021 and have sufficient supplies for all the industries we are talking about. As the Deputy said, it will be very difficult to do it. Otherwise, we face the closure of imports from September, if the Irish horticultural industry and the mushroom industry are to survive.

The Deputy asked about the increase in the cost of material. In the case of coir for example, transport costs have increased by 300%, while the cost for the material to be delivered is more than 50% higher than it was this time last year, if it can be got. One of the problems with alternatives is the reliability of supply. In Sri Lanka and India last autumn, factories were closed over Covid and then they had the longest monsoon season in years, so harvesting was not able to take place. There is a massive shortage of coir at the moment and it will probably be the end of March or April before it can be got.