{"id":23289,"date":"2021-10-02T09:37:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-02T13:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23289"},"modified":"2021-10-02T09:37:52","modified_gmt":"2021-10-02T13:37:52","slug":"government-delays-release-of-report-on-alternatives-to-peat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23289","title":{"rendered":"Government Delays Release Of Report On Alternatives To Peat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sinn Fi\u00e9n TD Matt Carthy said it was deeply worrying that the report on peat alternatives, initially scheduled for the end of September, had been pushed back (PA Archive\/PA Images<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The last-minute delay of a much-awaited report into alternatives to peat in Ireland has been described as \u201cvery concerning\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinn F\u00e9in TD Matt Carthy said it was deeply worrying that the report, initially scheduled for publication by the end of September, had been pushed back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the horticulture industry are among those waiting to hear the findings of the report by a working group on horticultural peat, which was created earlier this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior minister Malcolm Noonan, who has responsibility for the issue in the Department of Housing, told Mr Carthy in a D\u00e1il written answer this week that the report would be published by the end of September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand that the final report is to be completed and sent to me by the end of September 2021. The report is expected to identify possible alternatives to peat and to outline the research required to produce commercially effective alternatives for the horticulture sector,\u201d Mr Noonan told the Sinn F\u00e9in TD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing confirmed to the PA news agency that the report had not been completed by the end of last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe chair of the working group has indicated to the minister that the final report is at an advanced stage and will be provided to him before the end of October,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe brief extension was granted by Minister Noonan following a request by the chair, who informed him that the group needed more time to finalize the report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by independent chair Dr Munoo Prasad, the working group has been charged with examining the current challenges facing the horticultural industry following Ireland\u2019s decision to end peat production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision has been questioned by the horticulture and mushroom industry, which has queried why Ireland is now having to import peat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The working group, which has held 11 meetings so far, is primarily considering any alternatives to peat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Carthy told PA: \u201cIt is very concerning that the working group report has been delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He questioned why the report\u2019s publication had been \u201cpushed back a month without explanation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have seen shipments arriving into Ireland with 4,000 tonnes of peat, after taking on a 3,000 kilometer sea journey,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clearly environmental and economic lunacy and therefore there needs to be urgent Government action to resolve it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also asked why two different dates for the report\u2019s publication had been provided in a matter of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt seems there is no sense of urgency,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have great fears for the mushroom industry, because there is no realistic alternative at present.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the absence of that, only two things can happen. Either peat will be imported or the mushroom sector will be exported.\u201d<\/p>\n

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