'Crisis' in horticultural peat sector 'has impacted environment, employment, economy'

"Horticultural peat harvesting has all but ceased and Irish peat supplies are all but exhausted."

In Ireland, the horticultural industry employs over 17,000 people, 6,600 directly and 11,000 indirectly.

The "crisis" in the horticultural peat sector "has impacted the environment, employment, and the economy".

An Oireachtas committee meeting later today will hear of how without "appropriate Government action", Ireland will lose its indigenous horticultural sector.