Kildare Growers To Stage A Protest Outside The Convention Centre Today.

Tuesday, 13 July 2021 07:30

By Ciara Plunkett @plunkettciara

Pictured are, l-r: Larry Doran, Kieran Dunne, Fintan Keane, Tim Scram, Matt Lohan &, not pictured Wiet Rentes.

They say they are 'being ignored and let down' by the Government.

Kildare growers will be among those staging a protest outside the Convention Centre today.

Plant nursery owners from across Ireland are rallying against the ban on horticultural peat harvesting.

They say they are 'being ignored and let down' by the Government.

The rally takes place at the Convention Centre as the facility is hosting Dáil sessions today.

Newbridge headquartered Bord na Mona announced, in December, that it was ceasing peat harvesting.

There's also a restriction on harvesting peat from areas over 30 hectares.

Larry Doran Spokesperson for Kildare Growers,"We have been completely let down and forgotten about by the Irish Government, and we have to take action.This is one of the most important environmental issues facing our country and it is beyond belief that we have to beg for our survival at a time when the Green Party is in government".

Saying thousands of jobs are at risk in his industry Mr Doran says "Irish nurseries across the country rely on Irish peat as a growing medium. The Irish Horticulture Industry is facing it's largest crisis to date . It is an absurd situation and this environmental tokenism by the Irish Government will cost us our jobs, our livelihoods and our passion for growing and nurturing. We are the propagators, without us there is no Irish Horticulture industry".

Matt Lohan is Founder of the Kildare Growers Group and is owner of Woodstock Trees and Shrubs, in Carbury.

He spoke to Kildare Today, live from the rally.

Matt Lohan joined Clem Ryan on Tuesday's edition of the programme.