Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. I have taken on board what they have said and I have also taken on board the constructive manner in which it has been raised. To be clear, the board of management of Bord na Móna is responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and management of the organisation. It is a commercial State body and it will manage its operations. The piece with regard to consent sits in the Department. To be clear, I had no discussions late last year as it would have been my predecessor. I am not sure on what the State organisation had to advise the Department and my predecessor other than that it had gone through a strategic review.

Bord na Móna has done very well in many aspects of the transition to green energy and in transitioning the workforce. The just transition has worked well and I want to accelerate it. We have removed peat from our electricity system and this is something we welcome. It is now a big deliverer of renewable energies. Workers' rights and the terms and conditions they hold are very important and I do not take this lightly. To reiterate, I have noted very seriously the concerns raised by SIPTU. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet Bord na Móna on its strategic direction, the overall management and its plans as to how it will help the country with energy stability, energy security and green energy. This will also be on the agenda when I meet it. I will meet all of the agencies under the aegis of the Department and it will take some time to get through them.

I am aware that, right now, there is concern for the people who are working in the recycling company, but there is a process to be followed. As I have said, on 7 February, the CCPC received papers from the company. I have not been asked to give ministerial consent at this stage. I have to follow the process and I cannot intervene at this stage. This is being very honest. I am watching it very closely and carefully. With regard to how any future Oireachtas committee would deal with this, I will certainly look at it. I am not sure whether it is appropriate in this instance. It may be or it may not be. Certainty is required as soon as possible for those who work in the company. This is something I will impress upon the chair of the board and the management of Bord na Móna when I meet them. I do not want to see a process that drags out for months and months. I am sure that is not an atmosphere or environment that people would want to work in. I assure the Deputies I have taken on board their views. I also have my own views. I want to assess this in the round when I have all of the information available to me, which I do not yet at this stage.

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