Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I think so. Those would have just come in. They are new licences. Those people have opted in, which is welcome. Land availability is a challenge. The Senator is right that the challenges that exist now probably were not there previously. It is an issue across the board for agriculture and forestry. I am not sure what the solution is but we need to look at the situation in some way. We need to increase our tillage and forestry areas. Something, in one sense, has to give. From a forestry perspective, it is all about farmers seeing forestry as part of their farms and not a different part of their enterprises. It is not an either-or situation. That is part of the communication required to promote the new schemes.

We have been engaging all year with nursery suppliers and with the sector. The desire now is that we would issue the licences. We want to get planting. That is definitely the message we are getting from foresters and the sector itself. Those involved just want to get planting and do what they are good at. I do not foresee any concerns in respect of the resources there. Is that everything? I think it is.