Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Boland. I am thankful that he notes in page 7 of his report that some suppliers, particularly in the mushroom sector, are precariously close to exhausting all supplies and termination of employment is a risk in areas of Ireland. I say this because the Department has made efforts at downplaying this fact and telling us that there is no real worry there. It has come in and told the committee this on several occasions. That is not what we are hearing in the committee. I am sure Mr. Boland has probably heard on the ground that places are really struggling. The only recommendation that even provides a glimmer of hope is the question on the current condition of bogs suggesting that rewetting be paused. The suitability of peat from the quarry bog is also questioned. Mr. Padraig O'Leary from Walsh Mushrooms from my county - the Chairman will know it - said that he still does not see that as a short-term solution. He said diluting peat is driving up costs by 40% to 50%, and he also suggested that as you narrow the providers of peat the prices will also increase. Does Mr. Boland have anything to say on that?