Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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582. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has been in contact with Bord na Móna to ensure there will be no job losses at the Bord na Móna plant in Littleton, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21707/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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583. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has been in contact with Bord na Móna to ensure there will be no job losses at the Bord na Móna plant in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21708/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together.

While Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998, and while the matters raised by the Deputy are operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function, they are nonetheless matters of concern to me. In the first instance I have encouraged the company to maintain engagement with employees and Unions as this matter progresses. Although I have no function with regard to employment within the company, I have nonetheless urged the company to consider all opportunities for redeployment, phased reductions in employment numbers, and all renewable technology opportunities which may offer the potential of sustainable and long-term regional employment alternatives.