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

I agree with the Deputy that we need joined-up thinking. It is important to have it across Departments. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the county councils have their responsibilities and whether it is in regard to pollution or whatever, responsibility for it rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Forest Service and this Bill seek to make forestry accessible. It involves a huge shift in mentality for landowners to decide to plant their land. The reason we introduced this Bill is to encourage people to plant their land. There is much marginal land across the country that could provide employment in rural areas and that is what we want to achieve through this Bill. The Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine want to encourage that. We want to encourage more people to get involved in forestry; we do not want to make it more difficult. We do not want to bring in other matters related to pollution controls and so on, which would make it more difficult for people. We want to make it easier and encourage people to get involved in forestry. I want to be clear in pointing out that my objective in bringing forward this Bill is to encourage and make it easier for people to get involved in forestry. It would be a good use of agricultural land that is not suitable for production of grass or cereals. I travelled the length and breath of the country, particularly during the past 12 months, and I saw huge opportunities for forestry in many parts of the country. I know Deputy Colreavy would agree with me on this. Deputy Boyd Barrett would agree that we must encourage more people to get involved in forestry. The idea behind this Bill is not to encroach on any other Department.

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