Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am asking if the Minister of State has any idea of the cost in relation to rural employment. The issue with forestry at present is it is costing the rural economy hugely. There have been massive issues going on over the past number of years in forestry and that is a huge cost to rural communities. The economic output of the policy now being enforced of both the 50% broadleaf requirement and the conditionality on replanting in felling licences is all a cost on rural communities. Issues such as this have been rolling on. We have been talking about this here for the past three or four years.