Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I knew that Deputy Fitzmaurice was in the turf business, but I had not realised that Senator Mullen is involved in the transportation of turf. You find out something new every day. The value of this house is that there is great experience here. We are discussing horticulture and we have two horticulturalists in our midst, namely, Senators Boyhan and Murphy. They have outlined their great experience in many aspects of the horticultural business.

The Minister of State should seek permission from the Government to solve this problem. He knows all about it. He gave the impression, based on what he said, that he is au fait with the issue. He is the right man in the right place to solve this issue. It is a crisis, as has been said by several speakers. None of us are too far from the rushes or bogs. This is an issue that must be solved. It is ludicrous to be bringing in peat from Latvia, Lithuania and Scotland. As Senator Doherty pointed out, 80% of it is water in some cases. It is an important industry, as has been pointed out, that has 16,000 jobs associated with it and 6,000 people directly employed in the sector. The issues are around planning and licensing, and the Minister of State is the man to bring those two issues together.

On the licensing side, not everybody can be extracting peat. It must be controlled. Some speakers have pointed out that perhaps we can reduce the use of peat. It is ludicrous for us to import it. I would have a big problem if this peat was being extracted and burned, but it is not, it is going back into the soil again. That is a point that should be made. It is going back into the soil and is being used and reused in many cases. It is used for the mushroom business and then reused in other aspect of horticulture. Perhaps there are other composts that can be mixed through the peat to reduce the use of it. There is a lot that can be done. I appeal to the Minister of State to seek that permission from the Government. He should bring away from this Chamber the urgency of this matter, as several Senators have pointed out, and the jobs that are at seek. Quality products are produced in the horticulture sector the length and breadth of the country. I appeal to the Minister of State to get on with bringing in the legislation and getting the licences that are required for this industry.