Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., at Bord na Móna's "Heartland" Exhibition at Áras an Chontae, Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Monday 16th November, 2009 at 6.30pm
Is mór an onóir dom bheith i bhur measc anseo trathnóna inniu ar an ócáid speisialta seo. Míle bhuíochas do Bhord na Móna as an gcuireadh a thugtar dom.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It's a pleasure to be here with you this evening to welcome this exhibition celebrating Bord na Móna's 75th anniversary in Tullamore.
"Heartland" is the centrepiece of the programme marking this important anniversary and it is very fitting that it is being brought to the communities in Bord na Móna's traditional hinterland.
Bord na Móna has a long association with Offaly. Although early attempts at the industrialisation of peat winning and processing in Offaly were made in Turraun as far back as 1850, it was not until the establishment of the Turf Development Board in 1934 that the breakthrough finally came. Driven by the energy and zeal of Todd Andrews, the original Bord na Móna took over Turraun and also set up operations at Clonsast Bog, in the east of the County.
Initially an almost exclusively labour-based enterprise, it was realised that proper economic and industrial progress could only be achieved through technological development and mechanisation. Bord na Móna, under the strong leadership of Todd Andrews, took on this next phase with relish and built what is now a very successful and thriving State-owned Company.
Today, Bord na Móna employs 420 people in Offaly on a full-time basis in a variety of commercial activities and a further 250 seasonal workers to help harvest the peat. It supplies the West Offaly and Edenderry power stations, with which a combined capacity of 275 Megawatts, make a significant contribution to the security of energy supply to the State. And as the factory at Derrinlough continues to manufacture 130,000 tonnes of briquettes annually for the domestic heating market, the Company is also exploring the possibility of community heating in Ferbane.
Bord na Móna is, of course, no longer just a peat-based enterprise. Its resource-recovery subsidiary AES operates a waste collection and recovery facility based in Tullamore. Its energy business has recently applied for planning permission to build a 80 megawatt wind-farm between Daingean and Walsh Island and a 600 megawatt gas-fired power plant at Derrygreenagh near Rhode.
Bord na Móna has long demonstrated its deep commitment to the environment, now enshrined in its bold and challenging vision "a new contract with nature". Here in Offaly, the Company has played its part in the conservation of All Saints Bog, Clara Bog, Mongan and Raheenmore Bog.
It has shown commendable leadership in the establishment of the wonderful Lough Boora Parklands. Bord na Mona's 'New Contract with Nature' is far - seeing and addresses a range of challenges in addition to rehabilitation of our bogs. These include using Bord na Mona's resources to develop wind energy, renewable fuels, and new environment technologies and waste recycling.
"Heartland" provides a fascinating insight into one of Ireland's largest industrial operations. It is, in itself, a tribute to the pioneering spirit, ingenuity and energy of the people behind a great national endeavour.
Apart from the foundation of the peat industry in Ireland and a very clever module dealing with the future, the exhibition covers innovation, work, culture, community and environment. It gives a very good flavour of what it was like to work the bogs, from the backbreaking days of the slean to the mechanisation of the 1950s.
The technology is of particular interest. Bord na Móna used, adapted and designed a very wide range of plant and equipment over the years, from sleans to peat trains to LiDar technology. The Company was acting "smart" long before we developed our plans for a Smart Economy.
Bord na Móna is today stronger than ever, after 75 years of surmounting its share of difficulties - not just surviving but thriving. I have no doubt that the "can do" spirit which has been the hallmark of Bord na Móna will be a great source of strength in the years ahead and I would like to take the opportunity to wish the Company and everybody associated with it every success for the future.
"Heartland" looks to the past with pride and to the future, with confidence. I am sure that it will be enjoyed by the many friends of Bord na Móna in Offaly.
Go raibh mile bhuíochas díbh go léir.
ENDS