Two sets of families, one in Littleton, County Tipperary, and one in Offaly, are waiting today for a high official of Bord na Móna to tell them about their futures. The Minister was down last week in a blaze of glory to announce the feasibility study on solar panels, which we welcome. Surely, however, the workers in the Bord na Móna plants have given dedicated service and are entitled to some modicum of respect from the company and the Minister as a shareholder and should not have to wait for this 2 p.m. announcement. They do not know which driver, car and official will come to which set of families. That is how bad it is.

That is a Topical Issue.

Possibly, but this is happening as we speak. They are waiting for 2 p.m. and surely the Minister can make some comment on it.

This is a very difficult time for the staff at both sites. My understanding is that the board has yet to make a decision. As soon as it has done so, it will be communicated with the staff in the first instance. The board is meeting as we sit here. This is an operational matter for the company and not something in respect of which I have a direct function. A transitional process will be put in place and engagement with the staff involved will occur. The intention is to ensure that as many staff as possible at whichever site are redeployed and that we explore potential alternative opportunities.

It is linked to carbon tax policy.

I will bring a memorandum to Government within the next couple of weeks to establish a new semi-State entity, bioenergy Ireland, to examine the development of the biomass industry in the State.