Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I wish to clarify why I put down this question. The issue has raised concerns, particularly among certain employees in the midlands, and understandably so. What I want to ask the Minister is whether he would deem it appropriate to introduce legislation that would give leadership as to the timescale for a phasing out of peat as a fuel source in power stations over a medium to long-term period, which is already Bord na Móna policy, as we increase, over a period of time, the level of biomass and other power-generating fuels in the blend that is mixed with peat.

While peat is being phased out over a period of 15 to 20 years, we are also planning for the industries that need to follow peat production in the parts of the country that are hugely reliant on peat as a power source. This is the main reason I ask the Minister whether he intends to introduce legislation on the issue of opening new peat bogs — it makes environmental sense to continue to cut already opened peat bogs until they are finished — and also whether he intends to put legal certainty around when the phasing out of peat would be complete in power station generation.

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