Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. White and Mr. O'Connell for coming in, making their presentation and supplying the committee with a script in advance. I want to touch on some of the points raised the presentation. The witnesses have spoken about a lack of consultation. They might elaborate on that.

I am interested in hearing about their consultation and engagement with State agencies that the committee would expect to support their organisation and, certainly, to listen to it.

Mr. O'Connell referred to the reconstitution and underplanting scheme, RUS, and stated that its conditions need to be simplified. He acknowledged the system is in place. I know there are difficulties with it. He referred to it being simplified. In what way should that be done?

He referred to the costs incurred in removing stumps, etc. I know that is not a runner for the witnesses, as they made that clear. It is a generational thing. Teagasc has done much work on disease-resistant varieties of ash. It is not the case that ash will no longer grow in this country. Of course, it will. It is a fast-growing tree that is suitable for conditions here for many reasons, so long as it is disease resistant. What knowledge do the witnesses have in that regard?

A more important option to which many people have referred is that of returning the land to pasture. That is an attractive proposition for some people, particularly if there are no restrictions, that is, not having to replant the land, etc. That is important. What are the witnesses' views in that regard?

I refer to a new premium scheme. What type of scheme would the witnesses like to be put in place? What do they see as the way forward in terms of addressing this issue? It affects people differently having regard to their investment or, for many people, in terms of timeframe. Mr. O'Connell suggested he may be getting out of the business. There is a long lead-in time, encompassing a minimum period of 20 years. Do the witnesses have a view on the 15-year premiums paid on replanting? What would they like to be put in place in that regard?