Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The sector has been left in limbo as regards submitting new applications due to the lack of guidance on the new layers. Industry stakeholders advised that mixed messages in respect of guidance are coming from departmental officials. The head of the environmental section in the Department informs them that sufficient information is out there and the Department will not be providing any further guidance at this time. Foresters are basically being left on their own. Is that the Department's policy? Will the Minister of State assure us that officials will be more forthcoming in trying to engage?

It should be remembered, as I said previously and have continuously told the Minister of State under her term of leadership, that 1946 was the last time that forestry in the State was in the same type of despair. Although things are improving, she cannot tell me that landowners, foresters and people who own forests have any confidence in the sector at present. Is it now the Department's policy to not engage with people? Will the Minister of State give a commitment that she will engage and will try to get us back to a better place? We have the finest country in the whole world for growing trees, but we seem to have a Department and a Minister of State that is not actually interested in that. Will she confirm that her officials will work with people and not work against them?