Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of rights of way, the deadline of which was due to expire at the end of November. I am delighted the Cabinet made a decision today to defer that deadline. I brought this issue to the House last November, where I raised the concerns not only of landowners but of the entire legal profession that this was a cliff edge that needed to be avoided. I am delighted the Cabinet, through the recommendations of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has decided to defer that. It allows for a very stressful situation for all involved to be deferred and gives people a little bit of space to ensure the rights of way are registered, which is vitally important.

The other issue I wish to raise is the current crisis that hangs over the horticultural sector in this country. As Members will be aware, the horticultural sector employs more than 17,000 people, most of whom work in rural jobs located in different parts of rural Ireland. One of the sectors involved is the mushroom industry, which is of great significance to the economy of County Monaghan, where thousands of people are employed.There is a ridiculous situation whereby, due to the ban on peat harvesting in this country, boatloads of peat are now being imported and transported to various parts of the country, with all the carbon footprint that goes with that. I ask that the Minister come to the House for a debate on this issue so that we can reach a common sense resolution to this very serious problem.