Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Mr. Callanan mentioned forestry, I will focus on that area. There have been 2.8 million tonnes of sequestration lost over the last four to five years because people could not get licences. Looking at the targets that are put out there and the duration of the targets, the number that we have lost is like losing 8.6 million tonnes of carbon sequesters, because the licences are stuck in the system. We have been dealing with the forestry issue for three or four years. I know it is not a responsibility of Mr. Callanan's section, but it is a responsibility of the Department. We have basically deflated a lot of farmers that do not want to go near forestry now because they have joined another scheme or have done something else with their land. Is there a big concern in the Department that the appetite for forestry has reduced because of what has gone on and the number of licences granted? Also, a bigger thing that is worrying farmers is the uncertainty of not knowing whether they will be able to cut down their trees in 30 years' time. That is a huge problem. Does Mr. Callanan agree with that?