Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent years, our dairy processors, with the support of Enterprise Ireland, have made investments to diversify into new cheese categories such as continental cheese from Glanbia, mozzarella from Glanbia and Carbery and Jarlsberg from Dairygold. I read with concern in recent weeks references to such investments being made by such processors facing, and continuing to face, significant planning hurdles, which impacts on when they can make a tangible contribution to diversifying the Irish cheese product mix. We have spoken at length in this House about the challenges which we face with Brexit. Here we have our processors meeting that challenge head on, but serious hurdles are being put in front of them. In recent days and weeks, I have received representations from dairy farmers in my constituency of Tipperary, and also from the south-east region more generally.

Those people are concerned that this key Brexit diversification cheese investment plan by Glanbia Ireland, which was announced nearly two years ago, has yet to have a sod turned due to planning objections by the environmental activist group, An Taisce. This €200 million investment in south Kilkenny has the potential to generate 400 construction jobs, 100 full-time jobs and deliver a new market for milk for 4,500 families across 16 counties. This plant will be able to process 40,000 tonnes of cheese for the continental market and reduce our utter dependency on the cheese market in the UK. This is a major and significant investment.

A potential lengthy court delay to the project will be a blow to these farm families and will impact on the company's ability to diversify its products. It has been more than 12 months since this project was granted planning permission by Kilkenny County Council on 14 November 2019. My understanding is that An Taisce appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanála in December 2019. According to the website of An Bord Pleanála, this project was granted permission on 30 June this year. I understand, however, that An Taisce lodged papers in the High Court in August seeking a judicial review of this decision. This matter is expected to come before the High Court next week, which will be 21 weeks after the An Bord Pleanála verdict. My understanding is that the window for seeking judicial review is meant to be eight weeks after An Bord Pleanála's decision.

I respect the rights of citizens and properly-constituted groups to take their objections to An Bord Pleanála. We must, however, be careful that we do not allow the planning and subsequent processes to make Ireland a country where it becomes impossible to do business. Based on the information from the Charities Regulator, An Taisce secured two thirds of its income in 2019 from central Government and local authorities. Can we tolerate a situation with delays such as these? We know what happened in Athenry with Apple. This is a hugely important project for the country, not only for farmers and Glanbia, but for the economy of rural Ireland. Can we allow this legal process to continue to undermine it?

An Bord Pleanála has made a decision. My understanding is that An Taisce is basing its objections on the fact that there will be extra production in the south east for this plant. The planning process should deal with the plant in question to ensure that it meets the highest possible environmental standards. I am quite certain that when this plan stood up to an inquiry in An Bord Pleanála that it is meeting these highest possible standards. It is absolutely essential that permission is granted quickly and that the legal process is not used to thwart a vital investment for our economy and for the farmers and people of rural Ireland.

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