Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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Ms Brennan might give me an outline of the timelines applicable to the harvesting of peat and where we are with regard to that issue.

How serious are we now regarding having a Minister get involved directly in order that we can have peat harvesting at the appropriate time required this year? The clock is ticking. The need for peat to be extracted is very much required. The horticulture industry in particular needs it rather than for it having to be imported directly from another country, which is slightly bizarre when we look at the carbon footprint involved. The IFA might give us its view regarding the timelines pertaining to when we potentially need to have licences in place in order that we can have the extraction of peat required to keep the industry alive.