Ms Anja Murray:

Deputy Ferris spoke about the problems in the south west. I am aware of the concerns in regard to unenclosed land in the south west. Nationally, if we are to achieve sustainable development of the sector we need to balance interests. Ideally, forestry should be a positive for the environment. Pragmatically what we should be aiming for in the meantime is, at least, that it is not damaging to the natural environment and water quality.

In terms of burning, there can be enormous issues with burning in terms of the release of greenhouse gases from peat and soil erosion. However, there is good and bad burning. It is a complex issue. Problems can arise in this area but we are not quite at the stage where the control of burning is balanced. It is a huge issue for the forestry industry also.

Deputy Pringle asked about the convention on biological diversity. Ireland has signed up to that convention. It is implemented in each signatory state by way of its national biodiversity plan. Ireland's national biodiversity plan was published in 2011. It contains four or five recommendations in relation to forestry, which were developed in conjunction with the forest industry. That, effectively, is how the convention on biological diversity will be introduced in Ireland.

On management plans, which I know we were not asked about directly, money from the national Exchequer is financing forestry. Different interests need to be balanced in forestry. From our perspective a management plan is a good way to incorporate all of those interests. For example, as eight hectares is the average size of a forest, this can be an issue for small farmers. We have seen in other areas how collective development of management plans that can apply to a number of different landowners might be another way around this. A management plan is a really excellent way of ensuring all of those considerations are balanced. This should be required where the forester or land owner is in receipt of Exchequer funding over a 20 year period to develop a forest. My colleague, Mr. St. Ledger, may have more to say on those issues.