Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from the agricultural side of the house. I would like to acknowledge, and seek clarity on, a very significant statement that was made at the start of the meeting. Comparisons were made to 2020 regarding licences. We stated that 1,130 licences were granted in 2021. By comparison, my figures for 2019 indicate we were at something like 3,600, which means we have reached approximately 30% of where we were in 2019. It was a little unfortunate that the 2020 figures were used. The 2019 figures show we are really only hitting a 30% target, from what I dug up in the last 20 minutes anyway. We need clarity on the licences and the projections. If we are at 30% of 2019, the figures presented to us this morning were somewhat misleading. I ask for clarity regarding that.

The question of whether the 4,500 licences being proposed will realistically meet the needs of the industry is a major issue. I do not think they will. That figure is the bare minimum and we are still on a trajectory where we will be under pressure to reach those targets. That is clear from everyone we talk to. We saw in the auctions today that a 16 ft length of 6 in. x 2 in. timber has gone up by another €2 today alone. That will have a massive impact on our society. The two issues we really talk about in Irish life are health and housing. Housing prices will go through the roof for the lack of a sustainable commodity like timber, which we are growing in significant amounts but cannot harvest. That will be a real issue for us as a community and society. We need clarity on where these licences are going.

In the last few days and weeks, comparisons were made between our licensing approach and that of European countries. I ask for clarity on whether we are in line with what is happening in Europe. We all read in certain publications in the last seven or eight days that our licensing regime for private licences is totally out of sync with what is happening in the European model. Countries like Belgium, Hungary and France have a totally different regime and a totally different interpretation of the 15 km rule. That is a really significant issue. Taking into consideration that we are all part of the European project, how can there be a scenario in which there are totally different rules when it comes to afforestation and planting projects, the way woodlands are managed, woodland management plans and what is required in a 15-year management plan so felling licences are not needed for roadways or thinnings?

There is a lack of joined-up thinking regarding what Ireland Inc. and other European countries are doing. Can I get clarity on why we seem to be a total outlier on this issue? It is possible major publications in this industry have published different material but that is what we have read in them. Real clarity is required here because if we are that out of sync do we really need to start afresh with completely new policy and legislation? That is realistically where this information seems to be pushing us. We seem to be making trouble for ourselves all the way through.

Regarding our ecology service, I ask for clarity on how many people are actually employed by the Department and what their roles are. When I ask that, I mean their roles and functions because the letters I have received, even this week, seem to be asking for work that can be done by the Department. They are indicating that if certain reports are provided, one will come above the line. Given that we have over 20 people working for us, why is the Department still looking for these reports to be provided, for private licences in particular? Affordability is a real issue with some of these reports, which can cost €1,200 or €1,500 a pop. This is a significant issue if just a small number of hectares is involved. We need clarity on how many people are there, why they are there and what they are doing. Why are we still asking for these reports to be produced by some private landowners?

On the afforestation programme targets, and correct me if I am wrong, we reached 2,500 or 30% in 2020. I have four children at home. Future generations will not thank us for reaching those kinds of targets. We are under exceptional pressure. We all realise there a huge problem here. Figures like that really call into question the big, grand announcement that 8,000 ha will be planted annually. We are at 2,500. We are a lifetime away from that target. There is a responsibility on everyone to ensure we raise the bar and reach those targets. We will not be judged by the electorate in five years' time. We are not worried about that. It is society in 30 years' time that will judge us, when people are looking to cut down trees and do not have the ability to do it. We have a real issue. I am looking for clarity regarding those targets, where they are and how and when we will reach them. I do not see anything at the moment that gives me confidence we will reach them.