Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Senator has highlighted this collective approach across Government and with the relevant Ministers and I agree that we need it. Nobody wants to go around in circles and I accept she has that opinion of the situation but it is an unfair categorisation because we have moved on. It is unfair to say we have ignored recommendations. The principal remit of the very first Prasad working group was to examine alternatives to the use of peat in the horticultural sector. This working group broadened the discussions beyond that and went outside the scope of what it was established to do which is what we are talking about again today. My Department certainly took an active role in coming together with other experts as I highlighted in my opening statement. We have taken a very active role to try to come up with some solutions here.

I have visited many of those nurseries such as Tully's. Some are doing incredible work in terms of research. Representative at Tully's nurseries were able to show me their 35% peat-free mix. They are doing that almost off their own back as they see that is where the future is and they are doing it very successfully. They are trialing other mixes such as 50% peat-free and so forth and are on that path as are many growers. They know where the future is and where they have to get to, and we have to be able to support them. My role, as the Minister of State responsible for horticulture, is to support them on that path. We need a bigger conversation about how we help and facilitate extractors to become compliant because that is the bottom line here. They are not compliant with the law and that is why they are unable to access peat legally. Changing the law will always be subject to challenge. I am aware the Senator brought forward a Bill in the Seanad. Just flicking a switch and changing the law is not going to solve this problem; it really is not. That is far too simplistic and will be challenged.