Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have two questions for the officials. Deputy Kehoe asked a question at the last committee meeting the witnesses attended about the policy regarding unenclosed land and from where that policy was formulated. The committee has not yet received an answer to that question. It is a very important question about policy on forestry. The question about unenclosed land was asked last November and I would like to get an answer to it as quickly as possible.

My second question relates to ash dieback. There are three bullet points here regarding ash dieback. Unfortunately, in my constituency there is a great deal of ash dieback and many people are affected by it. Has the Department any plans for any other financial assistance aside from what we see in these three bullet points? This is clearly not a satisfactory response to the great financial loss the people concerned have incurred through no fault of theirs. I will not start a big debate now about whose fault it was and how the disease got into the country, but the owners of the ash plantations were definitely not at fault for this disease inflicting major financial losses on them.

I am very unhappy today. There is very intensive questioning taking place here and all I can tell the officials is that the reason we are applying such scrutiny is that, as public representatives, we are under great pressure from the forestry sector. The sector is extremely worried about its future. That ranges from nursery owners to timber contractors - everyone involved in the industry. It is our job as public representatives to highlight that and to try to get resolutions to the issues. We all want to see a forestry industry doing well and prospering. It has a big role to play in respect of the climate change challenges we face. At present, however, as was said by other speakers, there is a major lack of confidence there and all the committee is trying to do is highlight the issues that have been presented to members and try to come up with solutions to the issues on the ground.

Perhaps the officials will answer the two questions on ash dieback and the enclosed land policy first. A few other members then wish to put questions.