Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the president of the IFA and his team. I particularly acknowledge the hard work of the IFA forestry chairman, Mr. Vincent Nally, who has done an enormous amount of work and is certainly very lively in the Irish Farmers' Journaland other publications, and in communications with my office and with other members.

When one boils down everything Mr. Cullinan said, he has made three hard asks, one of which is a reconstitution grant for all plantations affected by the ash dieback. I will concentrate my contribution on the ash dieback, on which I will focus specifically today. Mr. Cullinan also asked for a 15 year premium to be paid on replanted land. His third ask is for an option not to replant under certain circumstances, which clearly is a very attractive option for some people, while it is not encouraged or permitted in certain circumstances and in certain cases. I would like Mr. Cullinan to tease out those three asks because they are the three central tenets of his presentation today. For example, with regard to the premium, what would be the extent of the period for replanting those lands? The one I hear most from those people who are directly involved is for the option of not replanting under certain circumstances. I thank Mr. Cullinan for appearing before the committee today and his team, especially Mr. Vincent Nally because he has done much work on this. I thank Mr. Cullinan and the IFA for the ongoing engagement, which is critical for the members of this committee, for the members who are elected to the Seanad on the agricultural panel, and for all Members of the Oireachtas. It is a good, positive and proactive engagement and I want to acknowledge that work. Perhaps Mr. Cullinan will concentrate on those three asks, about which the IFA have talked today.