Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I have worked in horticulture myself. I have worked in amenity horticulture, nursery stock production, forestry and the mushroom sector. I also worked in the tomato and soft-fruit sectors. Therefore, I am fully aware of and knowledgeable about the significance and importance of growing media. I am particularly knowledgeable about peat. There is a common thread in all the presentations today, which is not a surprise. There is a clear, strong message. The real takeaway from what has been said, from what I know myself and from the inquiries of this committee is that the advice of the working group on the use of peat moss in the horticulture industry, to the effect that horticultural peat should be phased out by 2030 and that legislation should be passed to remove the dual-consent scheme, has been ignored. That is what the delegates are telling us and what we know. The Department commissioned KPMG to produce a report on the future of the horticulture industry. It recommended the urgent development of viable mechanisms to sustainably use domestic peat supplies in horticulture. That has also been ignored. We do not need to get into this in any great detail because the fact is that we are back at the table of this joint committee, and we know the significance of it. I have been to Monaghan Mushrooms and other mushroom-production operations and I am fiercely proud of the sector. Visiting is an eye-opener. I recommend that everyone go to some of the major mushroom producers. That mushrooms can be picked and on the shelves in London and France within days must be noted. What a great story about the green island of Ireland and the potential for horticulture, salad crops and other crops. We could have far greater potential in the agrifood sector if we got this one right. Therefore, I am somewhat disappointed about the current circumstances.

I have another point to make before asking a few questions. It is worth making. At the end of last year, the Tánaiste said he wished to put on the record the fact that there was no viable alternative to peat for the horticulture sector and that the Government needed to find a solution to the issue. I say that to the members of our tripartite coalition who are present. The Tánaiste will be Taoiseach in a few months so we need to hold them to his statement. I am somewhat hopeful about this. We really should be honed in politically. The delegates represent their own communities, economies and local jobs. My message to them is to get really political about this matter because there has been no action. There is a sort of silo of communications.

It is sheer madness and hypocritical to ban the harvesting of peat in Ireland while importing it from other EU and third countries. We have a business that is being challenged and undermined, yet we are allowing the importation from other EU countries and third countries. That is crazy and is mad policy. I would like to think the Tánaiste will be taking that on board.

Can the delegates explain two things to me? Why do they believe we are now in this scenario? Why do they believe the political system is failing or that they are not galvanising or getting sufficient support? I would like them to think about that and then give me an answer.

A strong aspect of the delegates' argument is that producers, such as CMP, are in an innovation space and looking at alternatives. It will take time. It is highly unlikely that we will have anything before 2030, although it might happen. The year 2030 is not that far away, however. Therefore, we have the short-term, medium-term and long-term. In the short term, we have just got to get more milled peat out. That is a demand. Could the delegates touch on this? An important message that might not have been circulated is that advances are being made in terms of alternatives.

It is also important that we emphasise again the number of people involved in and employed in Irish horticulture. There are over 17,000 people working in the industry. The delegates say 6,600 of these are employed directly and that 11,000 are employed indirectly. There are also spin-offs from this. That is a really strong argument. Again, it comes back to communities, particularly our viable and sustainable rural communities. I believe everyone in this room is committed to the cause of the delegates. I do not doubt that for one minute. The members of this committee of all parties and none are as frustrated as others. That is what I genuinely believe, but I think that members of this committee, as Oireachtas Members, need some more information and facts to strengthen the economic argument and assist the producers in this argument.

I will leave it at that because I am conscious that other members want to contribute. The more information the delegates can give us, the better. They should get political and motivate their communities. If they want the jobs to be sustained, they will have to crank up the pressure on their communities and elected representatives.

With regard to the employment challenges and the potential loss of jobs, could the delegates touch on the matter? If the problem is not resolved in the short term, how will it impact on the delegates' businesses and, more important, on employment in the communities they work in and represent?