Mr. Teige Ryan:

Okay. Deputy Carthy's concerns around afforestation are valid. On the policy changes that need to be done, you can come up with all the policy changes in the world but one thing that would make all the difference, which I think members are already aware of, is that no matter what we do, what regulations change or systems change, we are absolutely nothing if there are not statutory timelines built in for decision-making on applications. When an afforestation application is submitted, there should be a set time of 90 days or 120 days and the applicant knows how long it is going to take. At the moment an application is going into the system and getting kicked around from Billy to Jack into a black hole. Foresters are phoning up asking the Department for an update. We know from our members that in many cases they do not get the update. Emails are not replied to. Here is a statistic. Just 18% of licences for afforestation are approved within the 18 weeks set out in the farmer's charter. This is what leads to the reduction in the conversion rate. Farmers and landowners are forced out of the system through frustration. To answer the Deputy's question, timelines for decisions form the policy change that is needed and must be done.