John McGahon (Fine Gael)
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I have had a number of discussions on hemp in recent months, including with Mr. Paul McCourt, the CEO of Celtic Wind, a company based in Dundalk, County Louth. A number of farmers on the Cooley Peninsula have grown hemp for a large number of years. It is farcical that there is no production facility in this country and that hemp must be exported and then imported. If we had a production facility on the island of Ireland, we could become a leader in the exportation of hemp to other parts of the world where it is currently used. Hemp is a tried and tested sustainable building method. The fact that it is not properly utilised is a poor reflection on this country.

I did not know anything about hemp production until six months ago when Mr. McCourt reached out and decided to meet me to discuss the matter. It must be hard for people like him as they are left feeling that they are just voices in the wind. The witnesses present have been very clear that hemp is a sustainable building material. Is it only through Government funding that we can have a production facility on the island of Ireland?