Just Transition appointment for Seamus Boland

CEO of Irish Rural Link and Rahan native Seamus Boland has been confirmed as one of the 11 members of the Just Transition Commission, after the Government approved the appointment of those members for a three-year term.

The Commission will advise and support the Government on Just Transition funding and projects, and was designed to include expertise across a broad range of areas, including human rights and equality, skills development, rural and community development, social inclusion, the green economic transition, and youth perspectives.

Aside from his role as CEO of Irish Rural Link, Seamus Boland was Chair of Pobal, is currently the Chair of The Irish Peatlands Council, and he chairs the Government inter-departmental committee responsible for implementation of the Peatlands Strategy. He is in his second term as President of the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, (European Economic Social Council).

His appointment was suggested and advocated for by the Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett, who expressed her hope that the new Commission would continue to keep the reason behind the existence of Just Transition at the forefront of their thoughts.

“Seamus’ appointment to this Commission is crucially important because of his innate understanding of the areas that are most affected by the transition away from the peat-based economy, and his knowledge and appreciation for what those areas need most, which is wholehearted support for initiatives and projects that will yield high value employment for the people that have borne the brunt of this transformation”, she said.

“So far, here in Offaly our experience of Just Transition has been mixed, to say the least of it. While there have been some worthwhile initiatives, many have been too piecemeal, with too little focus on creating employment, and it could easily have been argued that the entire Just Transition project should have been entirely focused on Offaly and Longford, with perhaps a few smaller pockets in traditional bogland areas on the Laois side of the Slieve Blooms and in west Kildare.

“I would urge this commission not to lose sight of that reality, and for that reason I’m delighted to see that Seamus was appointed, because he understands how this county has been affected and how best to bring out Offaly’s immense future potential”.