Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the limited circumstances of horticultural peat and the mushroom industry, planning is facilitated in the Department. We are hoping, further to discussion with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to make it exempt from planning and that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, would regulate it under the Environmental Protection Agency Act. There is an issue with legislating for retrospective environmental impact assessment, EIA, and we are in discussions about that.

See this speech in context