Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. It was 11 a.m. today when we got some of these reports. It is rather short notice. We are trying to read through the different pieces. Regarding Irish Rural Link, I think we should being in Mr. Boland, who wrote this report, and the participants from the peat sector. I will propose this and I hope it will be seconded. As members are aware, I made a few phone calls before the meeting started but my understanding is that Growing Media Ireland, GMI, was contacted. There are allegations in the report about non co-operation and different things. This is very harsh stuff and we need to check it out to see who is right and wrong. GMI is over the four larger operators that do peat in this country. It replied back. My understanding is that it contacted Mr. Boland. The Irish Farmers Association, IFA, had not been contacted but then it was contacted. The IFA was involved with people who use the peat. People who use the peat do not store it in large quantities. Kildare growers just get enough in for themselves, so they would not know the quantities involved. I hope that proposal would be seconded.