Ms Orla McManus:

I will take that because it touches on Senator Boyhan's question on research and development. The only reason we have been able to do this research and development is because we felt our hand was forced. We want to be sustainable mushroom producers and the retailers also want it. We need to get there by 2030. We have had to use our own industry investment, taking growers' money altogether. We have now managed to get the Department on board but our only means of investment is via the producer organisation scheme. We have not been able to avail of any other pot of money. We would really appreciate Government support on that.

Transitioning to being peat free by 2030 will cost us €19 million. That is not from processing this new substrate but from lost yield by using it until we reach an optimal blueprint and also from the input costs of the materials in the processes we need to do. That is €19 million over five years. I am only speaking on behalf of our members, but there is the whole Irish mushroom industry. That deals with research and development.

Senator Boyhan also asked why it is not happening. I am pretty new to these discussions on peat harvesting. As the Senator said, all I can see are siloed Departments. It is necessary to go to three Departments in order to try to get a licence. These people have been trying since 2010 or 2011. They need to go through the courts. That does not add up. Something is fundamentally wrong in the system. Surely it is about getting the right people in the room and making it happen.