Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I met with him outside the gates of Leinster House just after lunch today and I know he had meaningful engagement with the people there. He has injected a dose of reality to the debate and I thank him for that. The reality is that the horticultural sector is crumbling and in dire need of assistance, particularly the mushroom sector. I note Senator Robbie Gallagher spoke about the mushrooms in Monaghan. That sector is on its knees.

In terms of carbon footprint, we fly mushrooms to London and France, which is hard to believe. Due to the quality of our mushrooms, they are in demand across Europe. They are in Monaghan on a Monday and on a shelf in Harrods in London shortly after. Is that not a great thing to be able to say? Let us consider the Bord Bia strategy on Irish food and the green, emerald island of Ireland brand. We do not market and exploit the green island of Ireland enough, and hopefully that will be done north and south. A substantial number of employees working in Monaghan Mushrooms live close to the Border in Northern Ireland. It is a particularly important sector in that area and we must be mindful of that fact.

I take on board what Senator Boylan said whereby she made a strong case in terms of the finite resource. She also made an important reference to the failure of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to have a second series of post-legislative scrutiny meetings with groups, such as An Taisce, in the environmental network. That was regrettable and disappointing. Some members and I voted in favour of further meetings, but ultimately the Government the majority decided not to proceed. There was a vote called on the matter, which is extraordinary. Votes are rarely called in the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That highlights how divisive this issue is.

In the time I have been allocated, I will concentrate on three matters. I met with representatives of the IFA who made four requests, the first of which I have a difficulty with and will, therefore, not promote. However, I do not have a difficulty with the other three. First, it requests the resumption of peat harvesting from existing horticultural peat bogs for 2021, at a minimum, and they state that there must be a period of overlap, which I agree with. We must ensure the just transition about which we hear a lot. We are talking about people's livelihoods and an entire industry. When will these people be paid? Where is the just transition in that? One cannot simply cut something off. There must be a gradual just transition. Second, coupled with a just transition, a just transition fund must be established to reward these people or a system to supplement their income. If people lose income due to a policy decision - I do not have an objection to some policies - we must provide for the shortfall in their income. It is important that we do not leave people without their income. The final and most important request is that we provide the funding necessary for research and best international practice. Across the European Union, if people bang their heads together, surely alternatives can be found.

It is a difficult situation with regard to peat, but it is clear that it is not required for John Innes composts etc. which some people may be familiar with and are used in the horticultural sector. We must ask what Teagasc, which receives substantial funding from the State, is doing and how is it collaborating with other horticultural and agricultural institutes. We need to talk about what the alternative medium will be. We know most soft roots can grow without peat. Coillte confirmed that peat moss is not necessary in the forestry sector because there are loams, soil mixes and various aggregates that can be used in seed beds for forestry. We know many plants prefer to be peat free. We have become reliant on peat. We must design a matrix of priority and highlight what the important elements are. As a member of the agricultural committee, who has studied and practised horticulture and who worked in the Kinsealy agricultural research station in Malahide, I know the significance of peat. It has limitations and potential and we must therefore prioritise it. I am concerned with protecting the horticultural food sector and the nursery stock sector.The real issue is food. That needs to be tied up with Bord Bia. We have a wonderful reputation as a producer of quality mushrooms and we need to support the sector. We have to recognise that peat is a finite resource and will end.

I thank the Minister of State for injecting a bit of reality and realism into his commentary, and for being brave enough to call it out and stand apart. We have a three-party coalition Government. The Minister of State still has his view and he is entitled to express it, and I so happen to support it.