Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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On the forestry question, there is a win to be had there. I think the target in the climate action plan is 8,000 ha per year. I laid out some figures earlier and have spoken to several Ministers about this previously. If there are 130,000 farmers and they get 1,000 trees planted over the next few years under the next CAP, that equates to something like 45,000 to 55,000 ha. If the target is 8,000 ha per year, then we could reach a seven or eight year target. We also need a certain amount of planting to make sure we are supplying the commercial timber sector but I am talking about the farmer planting down by the ditch. The group that was here earlier talked about whitethorns and breasting the trees like years ago and there is a lot that farmers are willing to do, in all fairness to them. That is workable.

It would be no harm if the odd person from the Climate Change Advisory Council went out on the ground to see the reality. The advisory council can put out all of the figures it wants but it needs to look at where we can get a win to get things moving. Working with farmers, as Mr. Kelly pointed out, can lead to wins, perhaps in the context of the eco-scheme under the new CAP. However, as the Chairman has said, land reclamation will not fly. Anyone who went down the country and suggested that to a farmer would get a bit of a shock.

I thank the witnesses for coming in.