Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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453. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is aware of the serious lack of discussion and complete breakdown in communication between the board of directors of Bord na Móna and the company's staff and union representatives; that staff were not consulted before the recent announcement that Bord na Móna will end peat harvesting by 2030; if he has made specific inquiries or representations to the board of directors of Bord na Móna, as to the reason a full and clear consultation process did not take place before this announcement; if he will confirm this decision will not result in job losses within the Bord na Móna group of companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35757/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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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 are not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas. Furthermore, I am advised by Bord na Móna that peat is a finite resource which will be largely exhausted by 2030. Given these challenges and in order to ensure its continued success, the company is implementing a programme to transform all areas of its operations and structure. As part of this transformation process, the company last week published a Report "Sustainability 2030".

I understand that in July 2008, Bord na Móna published a new strategic direction for the company which included a commitment not to open any new bogs and I am assured by Bord na Móna that this policy has been clearly communicated throughout the last number of years to employees. I am further informed by the company that the transformation process involved in the Sustainability 2030 Report is unlikely to result in job losses. I am assured that Bord na Móna have well established channels of communication with employees and that the company has renewed its commitment to communication earlier this year. This staff engagement is set to continue as the Sustainability 2030 strategy is implemented.