Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to see Mr. Lucas before the committee. He has given us a very good overview. I am delighted to see momentum building behind the working group and to see the chair being appointed. We heard specific requests from the producers and operators in this sector when they came to us. Hopefully some of those will be achieved through the working group. The most immediate request is that they get production for this year up and running. It is good to hear Mr. Lucas state that a key ask of the review group is to achieve this.

Obviously, this issue is very important for the committee. As it and the crisis in the forestry industry are probably the two most important issues facing the committee at present, we will be watching it carefully. Industry representatives appeared before us and outlined details of their legal advice and recommendations from McCann FitzGerald, which have been given to the Department. In anticipation of the commencement of the working group, can legal opinion be sought on that, either externally or from within the Department? Can it be expedited to be ready for the working group to review? Clearly, there is a legislative requirement and industry representatives have pointed out that a workaround to this crisis has been found in every other European country. I appreciate we are bound by EU legislation but workarounds have been found right across Europe. The onus is on us to act fast to save this industry, which has an employment worth of €500 million annually. I wish Mr. Lucas well in his deliberations.