Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Reference was made to the compensation to be received by farmers with SACs and SPAs on their land. Serious restrictions have been placed on them in the use of their land. From where will the funding come and when will it be introduced?

On the ban on forestry in conservation areas, the hen harrier has been mentioned. Where there is forestry at various stages of development in these areas, there is evidence appearing which suggests the hen harrier might flourish. If we were to meet our afforestation targets while being banned from planting in areas of conservation, it would be extremely hard to meet the targets. I would like to see research into whether having forestry at different stages of development could work in providing a habitat for the hen harrier. If so, it would add greatly to our ability to meet our afforestation targets. The land in question is extremely suited to forestry, but with the ban on forestry, the land is devalued. If it could be proved that the hen harrier could be accommodated by having forestry at different stages of development, it would be a great advancement for the areas in question.