Hackett commits to reform of Bord na Móna mandate if returned to government

Pippa Hackett has committed her party to a reform of the Bord na Móna mandate if returned to government.

Commenting on the visit of Micheál Martin to Tullamore this week, and his response to a question from an Offaly Independent reporter, she said “I was very surprised to hear Micheál Martin quoted as saying Bord na Móna are doing ‘an excellent job’ in the Midlands. I have been represented by a member of my team at most Offaly Council meetings and every month the feedback was the same: The amount of time wasted while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors, including Tony McCormack slammed Bord na Móna policies and lack of engagement with them. Does Cllr McCormack not talk to his party leader?”

There is a commitment in the Green Party manifesto to reform both Bord na Móna and Coillte’s mandates. Pippa Hackett explained: “I want to be very clear – I am fully supportive of the work undertaken by Bord na Móna in their move from brown to green, and in rolling out renewable energy projects at scale, which is critical to not only reaching climate targets but in ensuring energy security. I've had an excellent working relationship with Bord na Móna and I thank them for that, but they are working within one mandate and I believe we need to re-orientate the focus in favour of communities, who have contributed so much, and of course towards the conservation of nature."

"In Offaly, Bord na Móna is our largest land owner and I believe we need more benefit for communities including support in setting up community energy projects and local and tourism amenities, and to maintain employment while they are doing it. I don’t believe any state entity should focus on the bottom line and we need a balance in favour of social, cultural and ecological outcomes.”