Mr. Jason Fleming:

In the past couple of years, as the Deputy rightly said, the Sitka spruce plants went to Scotland because 8,000 to 12,000 ha were being planted there per year. The broadleaves went to Northern Ireland when we were planting only 2,000 ha. We had a target of 8,000 ha but the mills had sufficient stock for that. The growers got caught that year but they got away with it. The Deputy is 100% right that if we have a scenario as we go forward where we plant up to 2,000 ha, which is what we have done in the past couple of years and less last year, and we have stock and no outlet for it, especially in the likes of the North, England and so on, then the nurseries here could be in big trouble. One thing I will say about the nurseries is they are very supportive of our cause in regard to ash dieback, the bark beetle and the whole situation in County Clare.

On ash dieback, we want all the recommendations in the report implemented. We agree 100% with the Minister of State on that. She set up a review group and we support her 100% on the recommendations. All we are looking for is that they be implemented. We do not know where the report is at right now but we do not want it gathering dust on a shelf in the Minister of State's office. We want it brought to the Cabinet and through the Dáil and implemented as quickly as possible. The simple fact is that we if we could get the funding for ash dieback and the farmers in some way sorted, it would be a big help for us in bringing a small bit of confidence back into the sector, as Mr. Gorman said. Dealing with the bark beetle and the task force going through the biosecurity measures are vital from our perspective. We are getting it in the ear every day. If the bark beetle gets in and the trees start failing, we will be in desperate trouble in this country. We are in trouble anyway. I said at the IFA AGM that forestry was never in a worse place. The Minister of State disagreed with me but I stand by it. Forestry was never in a worse place in the history of the State than it is right now.