Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Deputy for their nice welcome.

Peat is traditionally a very important component of the national horticultural and amenity plant sector. Approximately 60% of the value of Irish horticulture is dependent on peat as a growth medium, with the mushroom amenity and soft fruit sectors most reliant on peat. As the Deputy stated, the horticulture sector is a large agrifood sector. It is the fourth largest agrifood sector in this country behind dairy, beef and pigmeat. The industry continues to progress and develop. Of the peat that is extracted for horticultural purposes only 10% is used here in Ireland and 90% is exported.

My Department is not involved in the regulation of peat extraction as this is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. In this context, as an action under the national peatland strategy, the Department published a consultation document entitled A Review of the Use of Peat in the Horticultural Industry. That consultation invited written submissions from stakeholders across the sector. On 7 September 2020, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for heritage and electoral reform, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, published a report on the review of the use of peat moss in the horticultural industry. The report was prepared by an inter-agency working group following on from the submissions from stakeholders. Following the publication of the report, the Minister of State will set up an independent working group to consider the impacts on the sector. It is proposed that this working group will represent Departments, including my own, and there will be representation from State agencies, environmental NGOs and industry stakeholders. The working group will address the key issues raised in the report including the future use of peat by the horticulture sector.

The position of chair for this independent working group has been advertised and the closing date for receipt of applications is 23 November. Once the chair is in place, the selection of working group members is expected to take place.

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