I welcome the opportunity to speak in this annual debate on climate action. Farmers need a long-term strategy for Irish agriculture. Many farmers are worried that the next Government will continue to demonstrate a complete lack of vision when it comes to the future of the family farm. Farmers want to see that there is a long-term future for them that is sustainable and compatible with climate action. Unfortunately, what we have seen from successive Governments is a lack of clarity and ambition when it comes to agri…

I raise with the Minister the important issue of the good weather we have had for the past three months during the Covid lockdown and the fact that Bord na Móna has not been able to harvest one shovelful of peat. As a result, hundreds of jobs are in jeopardy-----

I will congratulate him on that in a moment. Turf cutters in Laois, Offaly and throughout the midlands who depend on Bord na Móna plots have not been able to cut one sod of turf. Thousands of households throughout the midlands, from Laois and Offaly up to Roscommon, depend on this as a source of fuel for the winter. They do not have €50,000 or €60,000 at this point for a deep retrofit and heat pumps. An Bord Pleanála sat on the permission for Bord na Móna to apply for substitute consent for months. Leave to apply w…

I welcome this opportunity to raise a very important heritage issue that has been held up by Covid-19. I refer to the issue of the peat harvest and domestic turf cutting on Bord na Móna bogs. Bord na Móna has not been able to commence the peat harvest, including at Kilberry near the Ceann Comhairle, and domestic turf cutters have not been able to start on Bord na Móna bogs. That is due to the decision on planning consent being held up. It was supposed to be dealt with in March but that was not done. The jobs of hun…

Those jobs are not yet available. The problem is that the Bord na Móna harvesting jobs are going down the tubes as we speak.

I am sharing time with Deputies Carthy and Kerrane. What we have here is a mess. There has been a massive escalation, with 880 cases confirmed. It is very worrying for the workers, in respect of their health and jobs, and other workers who are awaiting test results. I have been raising this with the Minister since Easter week and he has continually told me that he, his officials in the plants and other officials are sure all precautions are being taken. Whoever is telling the Minister this is telling him a load of …

Why can the HSA not share those figures with the Minister? She is the Minister.

Has the Minister asked them?

It is not confidential.

We should know how many inspections are carried out.

We should know how many inspections of meat plants are carried out.

Does the Minister mean to tell me that we are in the House today seven or eight weeks on, but we do not know how many inspections of meat plants have been carried out? That is disgraceful.

The Minister should know the number of inspections.

The Minister should know how many inspections are carried out.

We do.

It is not good enough.

Not meat plants.

How many meat plants were inspected?

The Minister does not know.

From some of them.