Mr. Colm Hayes:

Forestry issues are considered within the design of the CAP schemes because the forestry divisions of the Department input heavily into the design of the CAP schemes and agri-environment issues. The forestry sector itself came along only in the past two weeks to request a place on the consultative committee, which is up and running. What has been happening in Brussels for the past two days is the setting of the ground rules for what the scheme will be. A great deal of work has yet to be done on the design of all these schemes, and the forestry sector has now asked whether it could be a part of the committee that has input into that. There is still a decision to be made on that and, obviously, many different groups would like to have input. We met representatives of the forestry sector last week to discuss what the input to the CAP schemes might look like. Whether the forestry sector is inside or outside that formal structure of the CAP consultative committee, it is absolutely no barrier to ongoing discussion. We are open to any sensible suggestions in regard to the next round of schemes.