Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, I acknowledge the announcement by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, in respect of the proposed legislation on short-term lets. It will have a substantial impact on the housing crisis in the short term. I suggest that the House offers to commence the legislation to endeavour to pass it speedily. I would certainly like it to be passed much earlier than the Minister is proposing. He proposes that it be implemented in June 2019. I would much prefer to see it being implemented in January 2019.

I have raised the issues of climate change and the challenges we all face on many occasions. We have seen the announcement by Bord na Móna regarding bogs. Most of us would have realised this was coming. It is certainly going to present a significant challenge in respect of employment for the midlands. If we want people to buy in to the changes we have to make to reach our climate change targets and to buy into changes to production, industry, transport and farming to try to tackle the growing emissions in this country - and unfortunately they are growing instead of diminishing - how the midlands and the workers in Bord na Móna are treated will be seen as a benchmark. We have to endeavour not only to ensure that the workers in Bord na Móna are treated well and that they get a good package, but also that a special effort be made in respect of the generation of employment in the midlands. For decades Bord na Móna has been a good employer and has been the linchpin in many towns across the midlands as far as employment and careers for people living in that area are concerned.

If we want the citizens to buy in and if we want to take away their fears in respect of the changes to production, employment, farming, and transport, we must remember that how we treat the midlands and how we assist in ensuring adequate employment and opportunities for people within the midlands will set a benchmark. I ask that we consider a debate on the options for people who will have to move out of turf production and on the alternative employment opportunities for those people in the midlands.