Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I recall a TD who is now Minister asking me how we could get more trees planted. Some people call a ditch a drain but we call it up the way claí. Years ago, people planted trees down along in a line. They were lovely. In the eighties, a lot of them were got rid of. We all know that but there are still a lot of hedgerows. In my head, an acre is 1,000 trees. Why is there not a scheme for farmers who plant 1,000 native trees along their ditches? That would tick a box for the Department to comply with this stuff Europe is driving along the line, of hectares and sequestration. A lot of farmers would go for such a scheme. Why is that not one of the measures the Department is going for? When I was a youngster, which is a while ago, down at the corner of our field, there was what we called a shelterbelt. It would stop the sun in the summer. Cattle were out then in the winter and it would stop the breeze. That is gone now. I know you can do parts of that now but I am talking about down along by the ditch. What is that not allowed, if someone wanted to do it? If they sowed 1,000 trees, it could take up all their farm. Why are they not allowed? I am throwing the idea out. The Department may look at it.