Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed that the Deputy is disappointed. It is a time for a lot of optimism in forestry. We have dealt with all the issues of the past. We cleared the appeals backlog. We cleared the backlog in forestry licences. We increased resources and the functionality of the Department. We have a new programme that is ready to roll. We have a system ready to deliver and we have many enthusiastic farmers out there who want to engage in forestry. I am committed to forestry in all its guises. The reality of the situation is that we have to try to rebalance the forestry we have out there. That is why there is in the Deputy's view too much of a push for broadleaves and native trees, but that is the reality of the situation. We have to rebalance what we have. I am fully supportive of all types of planting. I have come today from the Build with Wood conference in Avondale. It was all about how we can use more wood in our buildings, our schools and our homes of the future. We need to use Irish wood there. We are particularly bad at that. I have had much engagement with the forestry industry itself and the sector beyond that about how we can work towards that. We formed the new working group on timber in construction today. I think that will do great work in this regard. All trees sequester carbon, some at different times and stages of their development and growth. We need all types of trees and cannot just do 100% conifer. That just will not happen, and to suggest it will is a little disingenuous because we are-----