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

It is important we have this conversation today because there is a lot of concern out there. Farmers and the others affected see the way in which those impacted by ash dieback have been treated and because the issue has not been dealt with, it puts a massive dent in the confidence of the sector. This adds to that. At the end of the day, we are not going to have forestry up and running and successful without farmers. They are absolutely key. We can put all the money in the world into a forestry programme but when a forestry programme has massive restrictions that are limiting and unworkable, all the money in the world will not get forestry up and running. This is another layer that needs to be dealt with.

The Minister came back to me just before Christmas on the implementation plan for ash dieback. He said at the time that a submission was being prepared and would be with the Cabinet in the very near future. It does not seem that will happen anytime soon. We need to see that implementation plan and as a committee, we can put on further pressure to get that plan, which is badly needed.

The second of our guests' asks is a matter that needs consideration and requires a very tight timeframe. I thank them for their contributions.