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

I get the Deputy's point, and it was very well made, but, unfortunately, the facts differ from what she might like them to be. In other words, if a person sets aside 20 acres, 50 acres or whatever and decides to plant it, that land is out of productive use. As the Deputy will know, under EU rules that are strongly in place, are coming into place or will be reinforced, a farmer cannot graze animals or cut silage or hay on land that has been afforested and has been approved and paid for to be planted with trees. That land cannot go into production for any other use other than timber in the future.