Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As for the review prepared by the interagency working group, was this not a complete acceptance that nothing like the level of realistic alternatives is available at present, despite all the hype from the likes of Bord na Móna, when it talks about alternatives being developed and all the rest of it? The review also referred to graduating the elimination of the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry over an agreed period of years with an agreed end date. This is exactly like the just transition process and one can look at what happened there. There is absolute chaos. I come from one of the worst affected counties, Offaly, where there is chaos with many jobs needlessly lost. There is a recklessness involved in the whole process. How can the horticultural sector have any confidence in such a proposal, given what is happening with the just transition process?

The review also mentioned the possibility of finance and support for workers whose skills cannot be accommodated in proposed alternative industries. How can we believe that when one looks at the peat contractors? Their work could not be accommodated and yet the Government explicitly ruled out anything like compensation or a financial support package, about which I asked on a number of occasions.

In terms of EU directives, clearly Mr. Lucas does not want to state whether he believes a statutory instrument is necessary. It is necessary to protect thousands of jobs. Does he accept that sometimes, EU directives are interpreted by Ireland in a way they do not need to be?

Ireland wants to be the good boy and girl of Europe and goes further than it needs to with many measures and directives, which are sometimes interpreted harshly to the detriment of workers and rural Ireland. What are Mr. Lucas's views on that? I have seen time and time again, particularly in agriculture, that the interpretation Ireland makes goes further than it needs.