Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to reiterate what Senator Gavan said. The Opposition has come together. There was no difficulty coming together to seek to have greater clarity and a definition of "just transition". I referred at the very outset to the importance of fairness, climate justice, just transition and bringing everyone with us, particularly those in the agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors. I acknowledge the work of SIPTU. It has done considerable work in this area and has engaged with all Members of the Houses regarding its view. Losing a job is terrible for anyone but I am thinking, in particular, of the workers in the midlands. I am thinking, in particular, of workers in the peat sector who have been hit particularly hard by Bord na Móna job losses, especially in counties Laois and Offaly. They have to put a crust on their table. Hundreds of workers in these communities recognise that there is a need for alternative work. The Minister also recognises that but we have to engage with these people and retrain them. While he talks about green labour and new opportunities, we have to support the workers. We have to support their communities and employers and engage with experts and Government agencies to formulate new policies that will offer them genuine alternatives as family incomes, and so they can understand and somehow have confidence that they are going to fit into a new green labour work plan. Ultimately, we can have all the principles we want but just transition needs to bring all the people with us.

The other day, we were talking about the sustainable development goals. The Minister was not present. The Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, was his substitute on the day. I was stating how the Minister had given me a gift of a little crest with the sustainable development goals. Subsequently, someone asked me about it and I told them he had given it to me. It was after one of our engagements here. I thank him again for it. I received a letter the other day in this House, not my own, containing another crest from a mother and her daughter. I am delighted to say that, with pride, I have it today. There is very little emphasis on sustainable development goals within this Bill, which is exceptionally disappointing given the Minister is a great advocate of them and that he carries with pride his sustainable goals most of the time. This relates to the amendment because it refers to just transition and addressing the issues in terms of finding alternatives and bringing people with us. I have a concern.

I have said previously and will continue to say I am particularly mindful of the people in the mushroom sector, the impact on that sector and the associated issue of peat. I understand the challenges. As a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have evidence and supporting documentation from Teagasc stating there was no real practical, viable alternative. This ties in with the idea of just transition. I would appreciate it if the Minister could address this. I am not suggesting, in the context, that he will accept the amendment on the basis of this but I ask him to address it. We have to find an alternative. It is not sustainable, practical, proper or right that we should be bringing perlite or other substitutes from Sri Lanka or halfway around the world in heavy crude-diesel boats, ships and other forms of transport, with all that goes with that. It is about sustainability and just transition. I want the Minister and House to give comfort to the households that strictly rely on, and need, the support of the Government. They need the comfort of knowing that, on account of this legislation, there will be genuine alternatives in the form of jobs to replace jobs in dirty or non-sustainable industry or industry that is somehow negative or in conflict with the legislation.