Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is less intensive farming going on in Leitrim than there is in the Golden Vale. I think that is a fair comment, yet almost all of Leitrim is in the map. I do not want to mention the war, but there is also this stuff about Coillte engaging with private capital funds to buy land and try to buy existing forestry, and it is all Sitka spruce monoculture forestry that is having an effect. I offered to bring the Minster of State, Senator Hackett, several times and the Minister is also welcome to come. It will get better as time goes on, but if you look at some of Coillte's forestry practices on Slieve Aughty, it is appalling. It really is. For the State to be telling farmers they have to make these sacrifices, which they do, and I am not arguing otherwise, while huge State actors on the other hand seem to be getting away with murder in terms of the environment is sickening for farmers. It is hard for them to see. It is particularly hard for farmers around where I live in north-east County Clare. They see what Coillte does. They see what it is up to. There are deadlines on spraying and all sorts of environmental regulations, and Coillte is above them because the National Parks and Wildlife Service does not want to know and does not want to get involved. Take on a farmer and you will get a result. Take on Coillte and you will get bogged down in paperwork for months. That is the attitude within the National Parks and Wildlife Service.