Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There can be no greener sector of the economy than horticulture and mushroom growing. By its nature, as an indigenous industry, it is deeply committed to the greening of Ireland. It is impacted by climate change and those involved are very much aware of the effect of climate change. Most are strongly supportive of ending the use of peat as a fossil fuel because they see the impact of it. We have effectively thrown the baby out with the bathwater here.

Let us consider the volume of peat used in a normal year. Peat for energy usage was normally of the order of approximately 14 million cu. m. Heating briquettes were of the order of approximately 4 million cu. m. Let us contrast that with the sector about which we are talking. Professional horticulture use was approximately 131,000 cu. m., while mushroom growing used approximately 245,000 cu. m.The amateur market, including those who produce salad boxes and things like that, use something of the order of about 470,000 cu. m. Thus, it is a very small proportion of the peat that was actually used. These are, for the most part, local community businesses that are green businesses providing food not just in our community but also, as has been mentioned already, to the export market. It is not just in County Monaghan that we have mushrooms. We have very good mushrooms in County Wexford through Walsh Mushrooms. There are also many nurseries there. These producers are really committed to the green agenda but at the moment their businesses are struggling. If one looks at the European Union, the Dutch, who have a wonderful reputation for horticulture, have not given up using peat. Nor have the Germans. We do not want to bring forward this legislation. This is not something we like doing. However, it comes at the end of a process where those who have been trying to save this business have felt there is no other option. I agree with the Leader that we would like to draw back but we must have certainty for those in the horticulture and mushroom-growing businesses. These are some of the greenest businesses in Ireland.