Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sure people will be happy. I came into the job in the past two weeks and I do not know what answers were given, I did not go through the file to see what answers were given to the Deputy's questions in the past week. New regulation is not needed. We must implement what is in place now. The officials have been tasked with that job and told to do it as a matter of urgency. They are to provide guidance to the industry though the use of the Internet, seminars and talks, and to gather technical data to provide a knowledge database to take informed decisions on compliance. The plan is for enforcement through actions such as site visits and information.

Last Friday, I toured three counties that have sites where a lot of forestry work is being done, and I saw there is huge potential for the industry. I was in Fermoy, where a private company employs 100 people in a very modern factory producing timber and boards at high speed for the market, replacing imported products and even exporting, which the company hopes to do because it sees a gap in the market. I toured the hills where the timber is growing and saw the efficiency with which the work is being done. The whole industry has a great future. We did not pay the necessary attention in recent years but I believe there is a growing commitment on the part of all those involved to ensure this project is safeguarded.

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