SF president meets with Bord na Móna management in Offaly

Sinn Féin’s leader Mary Lou McDonald was in Offaly on Thursday as part a meeting by a party delegation with Bord na Móna management.

She accompanied Darren O’Rourke, the party spokesperson on Climate and Energy and local TD Brian Stanley to meet with senior management of Bord na Móna at Mount Lucas.

Brian Stanley said: “The purpose of the meeting and visit was for the Sinn Féin leadership to discuss with Bord na Móna developments in renewal energy, waste recovery and the circular economy and also progress the company are making with their carbon sequestration (carbon sink) project.

"Sinn Féin were anxious to discuss the role that Bord na Móna can play with helping the State to meet our obligations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for further job creation in this sector, in particular in the Midland region."

Stanley, in a statement, said that the CEO of Bord na Móna Tom Donnellan outlined that the aim of the company is to provide one third of the total energy needs for households in the State by 2030. They are also working towards using 80,000 hectares of bogland for the sequestration of 100million tonnes of carbon per annum.

He also gave details of the company’s progress in the ‘Circular Economy’ such as their progress in waste recovery and waste recycling. This now includes reuse of tyres, plastic, metals and organic waste.

Brian Stanley said: “The meeting was beneficial and was a useful exchange of information. We discussed the issues that need to be addressed and policy changes needed to allow the State-owned company to play a central role in the green economy. Bord na Móna currently have one and a half thousand employed and they aim to increase this over the next few years by 500 more employees. This will be of great benefit in Laois and Offaly which are two counties that have been impacted most by the end of peat harvesting," he said.