I do not believe Bord na Móna is lined up in the State assets disposal programme, nor should it be. It is true, however, that the company is running out of turf and that diversification is, therefore, the way forward. In this regard, the company has been very successful in some of its operations. The Deputy put his finger on an aspect that was not successful thus far, namely, the waste management initiative. However, if he researches the matter, he will find particular reasons the waste sector in Ireland generally, and not just in Bord na Móna, has got itself into some difficulties. Without making a political point, I contend that if the Deputy has time to study the matter, he will find that the previous Government's procrastination on the future strategy for waste management did not help the company. This needs to be said in defence of the company.
The Deputy asked me about anecdotal remarks on morale in the company and confidence in the management. I have heard these anecdotal remarks but I am bound to say that, as recently as a couple or three weeks ago, I met the board, senior management and worker directors for more than two hours to discuss the future strategy for the company and interrogate proposals it has for the future. I support the diversification strategy and do not believe there is any other card that the company can play. It is true that morale has been affected by the fact that we had this year the worst summer, and consequently the worst peat harvest, since the company was founded. Morale is not helped by the resulting lay-offs and what are euphemistically called the mitigation measures that had to be put in place. It is most unfortunate that we had the kind of summer we had. As Deputy Moynihan knows, it also had an impact on the farming community. It was difficult generally.