Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

We must begin to think more laterally about how to achieve our aims. We must start by ascertaining where we want to go and what is our target. Thereafter, we should look towards achieving that target without fear of being perceived to be too nationalistic. I do not use the word "nationalistic" in the narrow sense by which most people define it. I mean having some pride in our ability to produce such ethanol ourselves to be able to stimulate local production. This could then offset many of the challenges Ireland faces vis-À-vis the production of carbon resulting from the importation of substitutes.

On the issue of forestry, the stated Government target in the revised programme for Government is to achieve 10,000 hectares per annum. At present, I understand that approximately 7,000 hectares is being achieved, therefore, Ireland still is off-target. Forestry is a productive indigenous sector that has a multiplier into the local economy.

There is a justification, even in these constrained economic times, for continuing the subsidisation of that sector. If, for instance, a Government can justify the subsidisation of foreign direct investment type jobs, whereby a grant or subsidy is given to a company for each job created, the same logic can apply where we seek to upscale indigenous sectors. If we are to target climate change, forestry will become a fulcrum in terms of achieving targets.

With the impending budget, I ask the Government to take a look at this again. Funding this sector will create an economic multiplier that will assist local economies. I ask the Government to bear that in mind.

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