Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have remarks to make rather than questions. First, I must compliment the industry on the way they have approached this over the past number of months. I am aware that the Chairman has stated that the officials were not available. I was a Minister of State for more than nine years and no matter how short the notice the Department had of a meeting, some officials in the Department were found to come in to bring some sort of clarity to the situation. I will not say that our meeting today is a worthless exercise but the people we need in front of us today are the Department officials. I know exactly what our representatives from the industry are going through. Last Thursday I spoke with a Minister - it would be wrong of me to put names on who I spoke with - and I was told, and the contributors were told, that Department officials and Ministers were meeting last Thursday. I looked for an update on that meeting on Thursday evening and I was told yesterday that a solution would be found. If a solution is to be found I believe it is right and proper that Department officials would come before the committee and tell us exactly how they are going to approach the issue.

My background is in the horticultural sector and I studied it in college, so I understand the industry fairly well. It is an absolutely ludicrous situation. We talk about climate change and greenhouse gases but when the witnesses before us today bring a solution to climate change and greenhouse gases the Department and the Ministers say to them "You are doing a great job" while at the same time giving them a kick up the behind. Normally I am very slow to criticise officials because they are the pillar heads in any Department, but they should be coming before the committee here no matter how short the notice.

Mr. Neenan referred to Klasmann, which was mentioned to me also by somebody in my constituency. I want to be very careful on this because I do not want to complicate any legal case but is it true that legal action could now be taken or is being taken whereby Klasmann has stockpiles that will bring the industry through over the next 12 months or even longer, but they are not allowed to travel across the bog to draw in these stockpiles?

Reference was also made to the importance of Bloom. I would like to see Bord Bia taking a more proactive approach on this, in talking to the Departments of agriculture and the environment, on the importance of the sector. Bloom is not only European renowned; it is a world renowned showcase that occurs in the Phoenix Park annually. It attracts thousands of overseas visitors, trade stands and so on. I am sure they are laughing at us when we talk about some people who are trying to stop the industry in its tracks in doing what it does best.

Perhaps the witnesses could let the committee know about the Klasmann issue. I am not sure if they can say too much about it. I compliment Mr. Dunne on his approach to this. I have spoken with people who were on that group over the past months and I am aware that they have approached this in a very professional manner. It is up to the Ministers of State, Senator Hackett and Deputy Noonan, and the Department officials, to step up to the plate and to bring some clarity to this issue. I am in government and I will do whatever I can, as I have been doing over the last months, to bring some solution here. I understand there are environmental issues but I really do believe that a solution can be found here.