Mr. Jason Fitzgerald:

Many of these areas are very suitable for wind turbines. In the midlands there are many populated areas and it is a different scenario. Coillte has land neighbouring the areas we are talking about and it seems to be able to get access to wind turbines because it has additional land that it can swap for the areas in which it is putting up the wind turbines.

Farmers would not have access to that. From BirdWatch Ireland's point of view, wind turbines are the lesser of the two evils. However, it is also concerned about the hearing of the hen harrier, which finds its prey not only by sight but also by hearing. Our argument is that the wind turbines are neighbouring us. If they are going to affect the hen harriers' hearing on Coillte land they will do the same on our land. On the views of BirdWatch Ireland on forestry, we do not think there is enough evidence to support its claim that forestry is detrimental to the hen harrier. I understand it does not oppose early stage forestry but objects to mature forestry with a closed canopy. I do not think there is enough proof to impose a blanket ban on forestry. The impact it has on farming is detrimental to the areas.

The Chairman also asked how the tax credit would work. When we are talking about designating land for a specific purpose and trying to protect a species, we have to make it work. If the farmers are not consulted at all levels, if the impact on them is not taken into consideration, then the designation will have little chance of working. While forestry is one aspect, we feel there must be an independent solution, separate to forestry. If there was a tax credit attached to every hectare of designated land, a farmer could benefit from that the same as if he got tax relief on planting the land. It would also make the land attractive to a purchaser, who would get tax relief but would have to farm the land in accordance with the designation. Several opportunities could arise. There could be a tourism aspect, if it was stated that it is an important part of Irish culture to have a tax credit on these. It would be of huge benefit to communities if there was investment in these areas. Ultimately, it comes down to the protection of rural communities in isolated areas where these designations are in place. It is about keeping farmers on the land in these areas and incentivising them to stay.