Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I, too, extend my condolences and those of my Green Party colleagues to Ambassador Johnston and the British people on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

It is great to be back in the Seanad and I take this opportunity to welcome all of my colleagues back after the recess. I have spent quite a bit of my time over the past month or so travelling around my constituency of Laois-Offaly meeting people from all walks of life. Such activity is a central part of our democracy and helps to inform us, as public representatives, about the issues close to the lives of our constituents. The hardship caused by the continued cost-of-living crisis is clear and this Government is determined to bring forward measures in budget 2023 to support those who are most impacted by the crisis.

On my travels I visited local producers and entrepreneurs. To hear their stories and concerns highlights to me that it is now more important than ever to support local businesses. They are the beating heart of rural Ireland and I shall speak about some of the wonderful examples in counties Laois and Offaly, including the Ferbane Food Campus.

Ferbane is a community that suffered hundreds of job losses linked to Bord na Móna restructuring in the 1990s. The Ferbane Food Campus has enabled and supported 30 local food businesses. The campus has also trained more than 300 people over the past 20 years. One such business is Ballyshiel Artisan Foods which produces delicious, chocolate-based products that are made from locally supplied milk. I had a really interesting chat with Tommy and Karina about the potential to expand into food tourism, which would combine the food that they produce with the local, beautiful bogland landscape. What a unique tourism offering that will be.

I welcome the objective of the Ferbane Food Campus to collaborate with local farmers for short supply chains. This is something that my Department and Food Vision 2030 supports. I look forward to the day when I will enjoy a food trail where we can discuss the terroirof west Offaly with hints of chocolate and cranberry on the palate.

Despite the current cost of living we are lucky to see some new businesses opening. An example is Audrey Kingston who has recently opened a new pharmacy in the centre of Mountrath and I wish her all the best. Another example is Ballintubbert Gardens and House, which is located near Stradbally. It is a beacon for the ecotourism sector of the midlands and earlier this year the gardens achieved full organic status. This week, I was lucky to see the gardens in late summer splendour and so can anyone as the venue is open to the public next Saturday, 18 September. I can attest to the fact that the gardens are truly a feast for the senses.

There are other excellent examples of ecotourism. For example, one can stay at Mount Briscoe, which is near Daingean in County Offaly. Mount Briscoe Farm has belonged to the same family for seven generations and been organic for over 20 years. It also offers some traditional and some less traditional sustainable accommodation options. The farm produces wonderful food, which will be served al fresco to some lucky customers on the evening of Tuesday, 20 September.

I wish to mention the heat-pump and soon to be solar powered outdoor swimming pool in the gorgeous village of Ballinakill, County Laois. It is another ecotourism attraction. The village will host the Pride of Place judges on Friday so I wish everyone the very best of luck.

From Ballinakill to Ballyshiel, Ballintubbert to Mount Briscoe and so many more places that I could mention, these are the hidden gems in the hidden heartlands of Ireland. With the wonderful entrepreneurial spirit of these enterprises, together with support from relevant State agencies, and Government support for greenways and blueways, these places will not remain hidden for long.