Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 February 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Policy and Strategy (Resumed): Discussion

Mr. Pat Glennon:

I have a really important comment to make on the Senator's point, which was alluded to by Deputy Fitzmaurice. Scotland planted its 12,000 ha using the same habitat or green directives that we must adhere to. The Scots got a Mackinnon report and their people on side. They got their Department and a Minister behind them and made it happen. They made it happen in fewer than five years. We are now in year four and going backwards. We will be going into minus territory shortly. It can be done but we have to get our ducks in a row. We have to get our Department geed up and get it happening straight away.