Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
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I agree and accept that there are challenges with land availability. There are all sorts of pressures from different sectors. At the end of the day, the vast majority of land in Ireland is owned by farmers and it is about their choice about what they want to do with their land, whether they want to rent it to someone, plant it, keep cattle or sheep, have tillage or whatever. There is a choice and we are trying to support farmers to consider forestry as part of the choice in how they see their farm enterprise developing in the coming years. We believe what we have put together in this programme is an enticing package. There are many options for farmers to engage with forestry as part of their farm enterprise. It is a choice that I hope many will take.