Mr. Pádraig Egan:

That is all that has been issued up to the end of March. Senator Paul Daly's comments raise another point about the RUS. If the ash must be taken out, there are not many alternatives to plant. The best alternative may be conifer and trying to get something for 20 years or 25 years. If somebody is going for conifer, as well as making a RUS application, planning permission is required. We all know what the planning permission process is like. The Secretary General of the Department came before the committee approximately six months ago and gave a commitment that he would take that matter up with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Dare I say it, and I will stand to be corrected, but I imagine that once he went out that door he has not thought of the matter since. The committee might ask him today.