Mr. Bill Callanan:

The Deputy is dead right on land use. Emissions are a huge issue in terms of how we address them and how we go forward. There is a degree of uncertainty, nationally and internationally. The IPCC report recognises there is much uncertainty about land-based emissions. The two elements of that are peat soils and afforestation. In terms of peat soils, to try to address the uncertainty, we have invested heavily through Teagasc to roll out a national agricultural soil observatory of carbon emissions, so that we get a better handle and improve the tier reporting. As you go up through the tiers, your reporting improves. That has already been rolled out at farm level and there is engagement in Northern Ireland to try to replicate there and get a better understanding of what is happening in terms of soil emissions, etc.

On afforestation, it is accepted that we have to increase our afforestation rates. My colleague, Colm Hayes, is working on developing a new national forestry strategy. That will look at existing issues regarding reluctance and any impediments to increasing the ambition for forestry. The Deputy is correct the climate action plan sets a substantial increase in that target from what is happening today. We are at about 2,500 ha to 3,000 ha and it has to get to 8,000 ha. Legislation has recently been brought in to facilitate small-area planting. For large-area planting, we have a regulatory framework we must comply with, in terms of environmental compliance. The general direction is to try to work with industry on how we-----