Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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I am conscious of the difficulties experienced in the past couple of months by nurseries all over west Cork and throughout the country as well which could, probably, lead to a loss of jobs. I am disappointed that there are no departmental officials before us today. While the witnesses are welcome, we are speaking to the converted. The horticulture industry, in particular the nursery stock industry, is in crisis, with raw material prices having increased by more than €1,000 per load. In light of the 30% to 50% increase in costs and reduced quality, many growers believe that will go out of business. There is no transition plan for the industry.

I ask the witnesses to explain why peat is being exported from Ireland while Irish growers have to purchase raw material from abroad at huge additional carbon footprint, which puts the Irish grower, especially small enterprises, at a disadvantage? Is there a plan for transition for the replacement of peat for the horticulture industry in this country? What about the peat in the bogs that can never be rewetted and returned to habitat? Why can a licence not be given to those sites instead of leaving the peat there while Irish growers have to bring in peat from as far away as Estonia and so on?