Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Lowry for raising the important issue of the future of Bord na Móna and its impact on the economy and jobs in the midlands, in particular. He is correct to say that when Bord na Móna was established, part of the original vision of semi-State bodies was that the Government would step in to set up State-owned enterprise where the private sector dared not to go. Bord na Móna was originally established with a mandate to develop the midlands region using its natural resources, especially peat which was to be harvested for fuel to produce electricity and create jobs and economic development in the region, as it is has done successfully for decades. Things have changed since and we now know about climate change and that peat is a particularly dirty fuel. Even the harvesting of peat and turf releases CO2. Burning it for electricity does the same. Therefore, things need to change. Bord na Móna needs to transform from being a semi-State company based on peat that creates CO2 emissions to a green company involved primarily in producing renewable energy, waste recovery and recycling and also in new industries involved in the retrofit of public buildings and houses. That is the plan the company has and it is one of which the Government wants to be part. However, as always with climate change, we need a just transition. We need to bear in mind the impact the changes will have on people who used to work in Bord na Móna and the communities and local economies supported by the revenue the company creates. It is important that redundancies be voluntary. It is also important that good redundancy packages be put in place and early retirement offers made. In addition, it is important that staff be given the opportunity to train for new jobs in the company, whether it in the renewable energy sector, waste recovery and recycling or retrofit. That is the vision we have for Bord na Móna, namely, bringing about a just transition and turning it from a company based on peat which causes climate change to one that is all about renewable energy, retrofit and waste recovery and into a green semi-State company. There are enormous opportunities for the midlands region and the staff, including future staff, of Bord na Móna if we embrace that vision. I agree that the State needs to be involved and that potentially funds such as ISIF and others could be involved in helping to make the transition possible.

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