Mr. Simon White:

The problem is that ash dieback is effectively off the menu. With all the Project Woodland meetings involving our group, in co-operation with the Forest Owners Co-operative Society in Cork, we are the ones really taking the hit on ash dieback. Any mention of ash dieback is ruled out of order. Even Mr. James Mackinnon was not allowed to address ash dieback. He told us it was not in his brief. When Ms Jo O'Hara was looking the policy for forestry of the future, she was not allowed to look at ash dieback. It was off her brief. The Department officials basically do not discuss it. They will not meet us.