Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2004
21 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the pressure on tomato growers with the rising cost of gas; and if he will examine with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the case made by the IFA of the extent to which CO2 sequestration is a feature of glasshouse tomato production. [14837/04]
View answerI am aware that the increase in the price of natural gas is placing significant pressure on the protected crops sector, as almost 30% of the total cost of growing a heated glasshouse crop is comprised of energy costs. In this regard my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, has met representatives of the sector and more recently the Commissioner for Energy Regulation. The Commissioner is currently conducting a review of the gas tariff structure and is engaged in a consultative process with interested parties. My Department will have an input into this process as appropriate. It must be borne in mind however that a large proportion of the State's gas supply is imported and the price of our gas is very much determined by the UK market.
I am also aware that in the production of protected crops, the growing crop plays a significant role in sequestering carbon and thus minimises the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. In this regard a detailed submission has been made both by the IFA and An Bord Glas to the Minister for Finance regarding his proposals for a carbon energy tax in Ireland. I am aware of the contents of these submissions.
