Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the representatives of the IFA. Its August report referred to poor afforestation rates and farmer dissatisfaction. I ask Mr. Cullinan to highlight some of the specific areas of farmer dissatisfaction. What would he propose as an alternative measure?

A few years ago, the then Minister, Deputy Creed, said that reinstating the farm premium differential was not an option. He also said that an increase in the premium rate for farmers was no guarantee of increased planting levels. Has Mr. Cullinan spoken to the new the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, about this and what is his view?

Is the Government paying lip service to the forestry sector and especially the small farmer in terms of its priorities? In the past the IFA has highlighted the excessively bureaucratic nature of the application system. I ask for an example of how this has impacted on individual farmers. Has the IFA come across duplication in the system because of this? If the appeals system worked adequately and the support the Minister has committed to were introduced, how long would it take to address the backlog and for those who are out of pocket to begin to feel the results? What is the best way forward in that? What is the extent of the debt that has been built up as a result of machines lying idle and foresters being unable to fell and process the trees?

I ask Mr. Cullinan to comment on timber being imported from areas where the bark beetle has been found.