Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. I have attempted to be as straight as possible with everyone. I have met all of the bodies involved. I have also been straight on the question of judicial review. It would require a failure of procedure. It is different from considering whether a fresh planning application could succeed. The issue being evaluated by the ESB is whether a fresh application could succeed and not the issue of judicial review.

With regard to Bord na Móna managing the transition, we are looking at accelerated rehabilitation of the bogs owned by Bord na Móna as a way of providing additional work opportunities. As we announced in the budget, we are also looking at additional restoration of bogs that are not owned by Bord na Móna, which would provide work opportunities well-suited to the skills of workers in Bord na Móna. In addition, we will deliver the midlands aggregated scheme for retrofitting. We are seeking to make sure we work with the companies involved, namely, the ESB and Bord na Móna, to ensure that between their efforts at diversification and developing new outlets, and the efforts we are putting in, we will secure a just transition for the workers involved.

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