P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

It is no good putting things on the long finger. What reply can I give to the thousands of farmers who planted and put their faith in broadleaf plantations? Their plantations take 40 or 50 years to come to maturity and are of immense significance for the country both economically and environmentally. If the Minister of State wants to curb emissions that threaten us with a global disaster in the near future, he should start at his feet. He should begin with the people who had the faith to plant plantations for the future of the country. However, the Minister is putting these farmers on the long finger. When will he introduce the revised forest road scheme that is urgently required to assist farmers to build the required forest roads infrastructure? He has not answered that question. Will he do so now?

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