Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, people from the peat industry were outside. I was disappointed that the Minister did not go out to meet them. They are growers who say that their businesses are being adversely affected. I met people who have been involved in horticulture for decades. Their families are steeped in it. They wonder how in the name of God it makes sense that they must now get their peat from Scotland. They are looking at importing it from other parts of Europe at a significant cost. They do not want to do that. It is not natural to leave Ireland to bring home a product that they will use to grow produce that we will say originates in Ireland. The Minister is forcing them to use peat from abroad because he shut down our peat industry.

Today, people from the forestry sector were outside. They cannot get permits to plant or thin trees or make roads. What is happening-----

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