Carol Nolan demands action on peat and horticulture crisis
Carol Nolan challenged the Tánaiste and the government over peat harvesting policy and its impact on the horticulture sector, demanding clarity, certainty and immediate action. She argued current rules leave no clear planning authority, restrict access to peat and risk the survival of growers.
Main criticism
Nolan said there is "no clarity, no certainty and no adequate sources" when it comes to peat harvesting. She accused the government of imposing unworkable, environmentally incoherent policies that have made the horticulture sector carry a disproportionate burden.
Planning authority and legal questions
She asked whether authority to change planning law rests with the EU or with the government, stressing there is widespread confusion about who can authorise changes and how policy should be implemented.
Access to peat and environmental impact
Nolan highlighted that some domestic peat sources are effectively off-limits while peat is being imported from "tens of thousands of miles away," a practice she said increases the carbon footprint and undermines horticulture.
Government response and next steps
A government minister responded that the issue is being taken seriously but is challenging because much commercial peat extraction has operated without licence or authorisation for many years. The minister said the industry has not been regularised and is struggling to regularise. The minister and a colleague commissioned a report by Seamus Boland to assess bogs under 30 hectares and engaged two planning experts to guide companies through the planning process. The minister's department is engaging with the Department of Housing and the Department of Climate Housing and Energy to try to plot a way forward.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Carol Nolan Carol Nolan Tanaiste, when it comes to peat harvesting there is no clarity, no certainty and no adequate sources. There is no clarity in terms of where the authority to change the planning law resides. Is it the EU or is it your government? There is no certainty whether the horticulture sector can survive going forward. There are no adequate levels of sources of peat, or rather there is, but people are banned from accessing them. What has this government got against the horticulture sector? Why has this sector been made to carry the burden of unworkable, environmentally incoherent policies? What actions are you going to take to address this crisis that is deepening by the hour? We have peat being imported into this country tens of thousands of miles away, which is increasing the carbon footprint. What actions will your government take in regard to this sector? Gareth Maggot. Gareth Maggot Thank you, Deputy Nolan. This is an issue that the government has been taking very seriously and it is a challenging situation and it emanates from the fact that pretty much all of the peat extraction that is happening, commercial peat extraction that is happening in the country, is operating without licence or authorisation. That has been the situation for many, many years. As a result of that, we have come up against a situation now whereby the industry has not been regularised and the industry is finding it very challenging to become regularised. I, along with Minister Hackett in my department, have been working and recently commissioned a report undertaken by Seamus Boland, a various rural network link, to actually assess the number of bogs in the country that are under 30 hectares and to see if there is potential in that regard and also commissioned planning expertise advice as well from two eminent professionals to help companies guide them through the planning process. But there is no getting away from the fact that it is difficult and challenging. My department is engaging with the Department of Housing as well as the Department of Climate Housing and Energy to try and plot a way forward.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
