Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With respect, I find that slightly contradictory. The Deputy has asked me two questions today. The first was on how we respond to a climate change phenomenon that is resulting in more extreme weather and a flooding threat. At the same time, he is advocating for burning turf. For me, that is a contradiction. In Bord na Móna, we have a State company we are very proud of. It has committed to moving away from a reliance on peat and turf as a source of power generation over time. It is working with its staff to ensure that Bord na Móna pursues other avenues to replace the employment potential that has been linked to peat. That is an ongoing discussion. However, we have to face the facts. While, of course, there are turf cutting rights and we have tight regulations around that, burning turf for the purposes of home heating or power generation is not something that is consistent with a responsible approach towards climate change.

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