Ms Geraldine O'Sullivan:

We have a new programme here. We need to start addressing the barriers and look at why are farmers not planting. One issue is land availability. Some years ago, a report identified 180,000 ha of land that was outside of environmental regulation as marginal land that was potentially suitable for forestry. We need to be looking at all these land types. We know there are things coming down the line - some were mentioned here, including the nature restoration law - but we need to actively look at suitable areas. When farmers in such areas want to plant, there should be a proactive application. As we said in our statement, we should develop a system that is farmer-focused, is about working with farmers to plant smaller areas and is fit for purpose. In other European countries, we have seen two different standards. Private forest owners have a different standard from state bodies or private investment companies, in recognition of their abilities to do it. There is a smaller application process and a much more streamlined system. We have advocated for something like that here for farmers. This is something that needs to be done. We are planting smaller areas, typically. It is on a holding. The system can be simplified and it can be streamlined. If we can do that; if we can provide the guarantees of the four months, as Mr. Fleming said; and if we can start derisking some of the issues, we will see farmers getting back in. That is where we need to focus. We must ensure the forestry programme money that is there is not going to investors but to farmers.