Mr. Adrian Kane:

The logical approach would be for a number of local authorities to come together. The most pressing issue we have in representing the majority of Bord na Móna staff is that if the company is sold, it will end up giving a huge advantage to the two or three large players left in the market. The transfer of undertakings, TUPE, will not matter. In a couple of years' time, people will be down on much lower rates and economic circumstances will be introduced as a reason the terms and conditions cannot be maintained. Public procurement needs to be built in. Realistically, in terms of municipal involvement, it would need a number of councils to come together and set up some sort of entity to compete in the space. That is the logical approach.