Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have two more quick questions. One of them is in relation to the measurement of the benefits of particular uses for particular pieces of land, whether they be rewetted peatland or rewetted forestry lands that were inappropriately used in the eyes of our witnesses. Do we have the expertise for that? Alternatively, does Dr. Moran believe we have the ability to develop that expertise to verify, parcel by parcel, the specific conditions on land?

Professor Joosten mentioned swapping land use in one of his responses to another member – I think it was Deputy Bruton. When it comes to alternatives for certain sectors of food production, specifically mushrooms and-or certain horticultural produce, the alternatives in terms of minimal peat harvesting are few and far between, as far as I am aware. While there are some sectors that are massive users of peat for production, there are alternatives. To the best of Professor Joosten’s knowledge, are there alternatives for crops, specifically mushrooms?

The other question I have for Professor Joosten is a specific one and unrelated to any conversation we have had this afternoon. Should the concept of regrowing peatland be built into the overall plan for the rewetting of bogs in Ireland? Is there a comparable analysis in any other jurisdiction with peatlands where there have been attempts to regrow the peat as well as rewetting and other measures?