Dr. Eugene Hendrick:

With regard to employment, the rationale for the Forest Service grant aid is based on employment as much as on anything else. This is not just a matter of carbon sequestration. The reality is that case studies have shown that employment results from afforestation. This does not just apply from the age of 40 because, as I mentioned earlier, we are encouraging owners to get in there early on, when the trees are approximately 10 m or 12 m tall, which in County Leitrim would typically be the case for trees between the age of 12 and 13 years. This is the time to get in to do the first thinning and that is why we are encouraging this. This is has huge benefits, not only for the owner but also for the State and for the downstream. This brings forward material very rapidly. Our policy on the forest side is not just about carbon sequestration or industry downstream, it is also about providing sustainable jobs in rural Ireland. I acknowledge we are here to talk about climate change mitigation but it is also vitally important that the State's investment in the forest sector supports such jobs. As I stated already, the case is there.

Thresholds are in place with regard to unenclosed land. This makes very good sense from the perspective of the State's investment because one does not want to plant land that cannot grow an economic crop of trees. It is really important that we get value for the taxpayers' money and that is one reason for these thresholds. It is not the only reason and I accept that member's point that there are environmental designations. There is also an economic threshold, however. When land is being considered for afforestation, it must cross this productivity threshold meaning that both the State and the landowner get a sustainable return from their investment over the long term.

There is a process in place at national level with regard to the hen harrier. The outcome has yet to be decided.