Mr. Fergus Moore:

I thank the committee for the invitation to the meeting. I very much welcome the opportunity to provide an update on Ireland’s forest strategy and forestry programme. I am joined by senior inspector for forestry development and head of the forestry inspectorate, Mr. Seamus Dunne.

We will discuss the Government’s approach to expanding, protecting and developing our forests and woodlands for the benefit of the environment, people and the economy, especially the rural economy. The first requirement of any new strategy is a vision for what we are trying to achieve. What do people want from our forests, what value do they attach to them and what benefits do they wish to get from them? After extensive consultation across a broad section of society, which included a citizens' deliberative dialogue, a youth forum, engagement with rural communities and bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, a vision statement was published last year. It called for “the right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management”. This new vision statement underpins the development of a new forest strategy to 2050, which sets out clear objectives for the role of trees and forests in Ireland between now and the middle of the century.

This draft strategy focuses on five key goals that recognise the importance of forests for climate, nature, wood, people and the rural economy. The strategy, in turn, will be realised in the medium term by means of a range of actions. A significant proportion of these actions will be delivered under the proposed new forestry programme for 2023 to 2027. To inform both the forest strategy and the programme we have consulted widely. As part of the strategic environmental assessment and the appropriate assessment process a six-week public consultation has been carried out on the draft implementation plan, known as the forestry programme, and various non-forestry programme actions.

In parallel, we invited submissions on the forest strategy. We received more than 130 submissions on the strategy and more than 150 submissions on the forest strategy implementation plan, which includes the forestry programme.

We are currently examining these inputs and expect to be in position to publish the strategy as soon as forestry programme receives State aid approval. The Department, after an extensive pre-notification process, submitted the formal State aid notification for the forestry programme on 20 April 2023. The Department is engaged proactively with the Commission in order to secure State aid approval as soon as possible. The Commission is currently reviewing this notification in detail to decide whether the proposed forestry programme is compatible with EU State aid rules. I can advise that to this effect, the Department received further written correspondence relating to this notification on the 6 and 21 June 2023. Additionally, bi-lateral discussions were held on the forestry programme in person between the Commission and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, on 20 June 2023. This included intensive engagements with Vice President Timmermans and Commissioner Sinkeviius. The Department has recently responded in detail to the correspondence received on 6 June and is currently preparing an additional comprehensive reply to the further correspondence received on 21 June, which will issue shortly. The Department recognises the importance of a well-funded forestry programme and has highlighted the importance to the European Commission, which is currently assessing Ireland's application for State aid. We look forward to engaging with the joint committee this evening and addressing any questions members may have.