Mr. Vincent Roddy:

I would want to look at the issues involved, but if the matter relates to designated land, there is a wider issue, on which we have our own views in terms of how it would impact on a farmer's income. Perhaps Deputy Fitzmarurice is referring to mature sites under the 2000-06 afforestation scheme.

I heard a point being made about agri-forestry. Throughout Europe one does not see hedgerows: there is forestry, arable land and very few cattle. Once one drives beyond Brussels one never sees cattle outside. That brings me back to Deputy Fitzmaurice's comments. At one level there already is agri-forestry in Ireland in the form of hedgerows. Agri-forestry covers some 6% of the State. We may not see it as-----