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

I thank the Chairman for indulging me and I apologise to other members for any inconvenience. I thank Mr. Hayes for the opening statement, which probably went some way to bamboozling us with updated statistics. The reality is we have been well briefed in advance by farmers and farm organisations and there is still significant, if not growing, disquiet in the sector about the failure to move licences along. Departmental officials indicated to the committee on 29 January that we would see north of 4,000 licences issued this year. The current number is 30% of that target with seven months of the year left. We could probably discount two of those months, one around Christmas and one in the summer. Realistically and hand on heart, we could probably say we will not hit that target of 4,000 licences this year unless some really meaningful action is taken. To be honest, emergency action probably needs to be taken at this stage.

I am sure the delegation has seen the input of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, on this matter. The market, including producers and companies dependent on the forestry sector, and the workers in these organisations are exasperated. I am a relatively new Deputy, having spent just over a year here, but it is inconceivable to think how this problem has been rumbling on. As the Chairman rightly said, we should discount 2020 for comparison. We have given this process time.

We had a degree of faith that something would happen and there would be some change. I appeal to Mr. Hayes to reflect on the urgency of the situation. What the IFA is asking for is not unreasonable, namely, a commitment that no farmer will have to wait longer than four months for a decision on a forestry licence application. At this stage, that is the only acceptable element we can consider.

Mr. Hayes referred to road licences. Forestry road construction and thinning operations need to be removed from the licensing system and approved under a forest management plan. We need to consider a cost-based planning support grant for the sector. Many of my committee colleagues will go into the IFA's submission in more detail.

I accept Mr. Hayes's opening statement at face value, but from what we are hearing on the ground from farmers, companies and employees, there has been no meaningful improvement. For us just to take what Mr. Hayes is saying at face value and not counter it would be to do our constituents and people involved in Irish farming and Irish forestry a great disservice.

I thank the Chairman for allowing me to contribute.