Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3366. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of engagements he has had with the mushroom sector regarding the restrictions on the harvesting of horticultural peat; and when those engagements occurred. [39322/21]
View answer3367. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of engagements he has had with the horticultural peat supply sector regarding the restrictions on the harvesting of horticultural peat; and when those engagements occurred. [39323/21]
View answer3368. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of engagements he has had with the nursery sector regarding the restrictions on the harvesting of horticultural peat; and when those engagements occurred. [39324/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3366 to 3368, inclusive, together.
In relation to peat extraction, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no involvement in its regulation. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) license process, under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
Minister of State Pippa Hackett has ongoing engagement directly with the horticulture sector across a range of issues, including peat use, involving meeting as well as site visits to commercial Mushroom, Amenity horticulture vegetable production sites . This includes meeting with members of the IFA Horticulture committee last October and specifically with the Mushroom and Amenity representatives in June.
I also met with members of the sector in Monaghan and Wexford recently.
Furthermore, as the co chair of the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF), Minister Hackett has met with the industry in October and April, where Peat was also discussed.
