Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Delany will be aware there is widespread support for a task force. Given what we have seen with ash dieback, which is still ongoing and has been for many years, I believe that consideration should be given to such a task force. That task force does not need to go on forever and the stakeholders do not want that either. It is not like it would cost the Department a whole pile of money. It is well worth doing, given the risk that Mr. Delany has acknowledged, the concerns that are there, the real fears now for people with forestry who are already under a lot of pressure, and given the state that the forestry programme is in. I made the point earlier that the €1.3 billion is welcome and everyone has welcomed it but there are constraints in relation to the new forestry programme, around restrictions in particular. The figures speak for themselves. Confidence is at an all-time low. If the ash dieback debacle is not sorted once and for all and if farmers and those affected are not supported properly - this issue is also of concern - then I do not see the forestry programme having much hope at all. The ask for a task force is from the IFA, from everyone involved across forestry, and from others. They are looking for consideration to be given for a timely task force to be established to get everyone around the table and see what more can be done. This would also support the Department in its work, as well as those with forestry on the ground.