Mr. Simon White:

I am on the board of a group that represents farmers affected by Ash dieback but also forestry in general.

With me today is Mr. John O'Connell. He is very representative of the type of people affected because he is an award winner in the growing of forestry. Teagasc has asked him to demonstrate and he has held international demonstrations on his plantation. He is very representative and is the sort of person to whom people in forestry turn for advice. I will hand over to him to make our opening statement.