Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I will be as brief as I can. As a Kildare South Deputy with Newbridge, Kilberry and Drehid in my constituency, Bord na Móna's remit and role are very important to me.

I am aware that Bord na Móna's history has involved not only harvesting to provide fuel to generate energy but also the generation of a large number of jobs. This remains the case in Kildare and across the midlands. Bord na Móna faces a considerable challenge with decarbonisation and in continuing to generate fuel and energy through renewables and resource recovery. It also faces a challenge in maintaining its position as a critical employer in areas such as Kildare, where jobs are crucial. In that context, I welcome that the Minister has agreed to the redundancy package. It is much improved by comparison with that offered in 2013. I look forward to staff having the time to consider the package. It was not ideal that there was a gap between details of the package emerging and the announcement of what was being sought in terms of redundancies.

There is much concern in Newbridge, where most of the administrative and management jobs have been located. As a result of uncertainty regarding who will take packages and where the job losses will be, there is concern that Bord na Móna will consider the future of its base in the town. Are our guests in a position to provide an assurance the Bord na Móna will stay in Newbridge and that the town will remain central to everything the company does? This is really important, not only for the employees in the area but also to secondary businesses and those whose jobs have been created indirectly.

In Kilberry, there are 70 or 80 staff employed at the peat moss operation. Have existing customers signed contracts for 2019? Do our guests envisage a significant reduction in operations next year? Do they hope that the operations can continue? In the longer term, as other companies and Bord na Móna's customers move to becoming peat-free, what will be the opportunities for the site in Kilberry?

I was interested to hear about the links with the likes of Offaly County Council in certain areas. Has there been engagement with Kildare County Council? Have there been discussions with the excellent people in Kildare local enterprise office to examine the future options to ensure we can continue to provide very important jobs in the area?

I will not elaborate on the climate action funds, amounting to €500 million, into which the company will need to tap. They will be really important. I completely accept the point that the company needs financial support to do what it wants to do. Bord na Móna's greatest asset is its staff. Its second greatest asset is its landbank. I am really encouraged by many of the positive initiatives in which the company is seeking to become involved. In that context, anaerobic digestion has considerable potential.

What are the links with Departments? What strikes me most at meetings of this committee is the need for a whole-of-Government approach involving accessibility and the interlinking of all Departments. Everything Bord na Móna is seeking to do directly involves Departments. Can our guests outline whether they have a direct line of contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regarding land use and the Department of Education and Skills in the context of the application for the globalisation fund? How important will the latter be? The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment will be very important in the context of renewables. The Department Transport, Tourism and Sport will be important in respect of electric cars, developing supports in this regard and the tourism element. Biodiversity is very significant. Could the delegates outline their plans for the Drehid landfill and the movement from waste to gas?