Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2020-11-04
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Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (FF), Carlow-Kilkenny

We all watch with pride the decrease in the number of reported cases of Covid-19 and we look forward to coming out of level 5. I am conscious that we must have a Christmas that is as normal as possible after the year we have all had. Will the Government look at how we can safely provide a way for the selling of real Christmas trees, which is a sustainable industry in Ireland? The Taoiseach knows Christmas trees are sold throughout the country from various outlets, including casual trading, filling station forecourts and hardware stores. I know in some places people can choose a tree from a grower's premises.
More than 400,000 Christmas trees are harvested annually for the Irish export market, providing great value for the local and national economy. This week I have had several phone calls from growers seeking to know the guidelines in this context. There will be seven weeks to Christmas from next Friday. This is a seasonal market and the growers are worried. They do not want to go against the guidelines for level 5, but which of those apply to sellers of Christmas trees? It is important that we make Christmas special this year, particularly after the year we have had.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2020-11-04/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-11-04