Written answers

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Bord na Móna

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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810. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he has taken to resolve all human resource issues in Bord na Móna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30190/15]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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816. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that employees of Bord na Móna have been asked to take pay cuts but senior management has not. [30311/15]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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817. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that millions of euro has been spent on consultants at Bord na Móna for the past six years with no benefit to the company and at a high cost to the workforce; his views that the high turnover of management that was introduced to the company by the former chief executive officer is a reflection on working conditions. [30312/15]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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818. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware that the Bord na Móna company chairman will not allow worker directors of the company meet the workers (details supplied). [30313/15]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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819. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to investigate issues regarding the management and decisions of Bord na Móna for the past six years, problems with minutes of board meetings, and the treatment of employees. [30314/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 810 and 816 to 819, inclusive, together.

Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the electricity market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas. I understand that in order to ensure its continued success, the company is implementing a programme to transform all areas of its operations and structure, the key objective of which is to improve business effectiveness and efficiency. In that regard, I have been advised that management and union representatives are currently involved in discussions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission on a range of issues relating to business transformation in the company. These discussions include areas related to the terms and conditions of employees. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter while these discussions are in progress.

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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811. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the recently held Oireachtas communications committee meeting where the chairperson and the chief executive officer of Bord na Móna were present and heard a number of concerns raised across the political spectrum; if he has discussed the concerns with the chairman or the chief executive officer; and his plans to ensure the issues raised are dealt with. [30192/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I am aware that the Chair and Chief Executive of Bord na Móna have recently appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss the cessation of peat briquette production at two Bord na Móna factories at Littleton, County Tipperary and Derrinlough, County Offaly. I understand that a range of issues were discussed at the meeting most of which were operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, would have a function. As a matter of routine, I regularly meet with the Chair and senior management of the Company on a range of policy issues but the company has not discussed the issues raised in the course of the Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting with me since their meeting with the Committee.

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