Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have a big crowd at today's meeting. I will restrict all speakers to ten minutes with questions and we will have a second round if necessary. There is huge interest in this topic. Since I became Chairman, the committee has devoted considerable time to forestry and held many meetings on the subject. We published a report a year and a half ago with recommendations on different aspects of the forestry sector. Thankfully, the number of clear-felling licences is increasing significantly but afforestation levels remain exceptionally low. We have a battle to get land for afforestation given the different options available for land use. That will be a serious challenge going forward. I acknowledge that we now have a forestry strategy for which substantial money has been provided. It will take a good while to get around members in the first round. If anyone wants to ask further questions after that, we will give them the opportunity to do so.