Dáil debates

Thursday, 15 July 2021

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:30 pm

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the following issue a number of times in the House. It concerns the deep crisis facing our forestry sector. Almost a year ago, a forestry Bill was introduced by the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, in which she pledged to address the ongoing difficulties and backlog in respect of licences. Almost a year later, 6,000 licences are caught up in the backlog. It is unacceptable. Earlier this week, we met members of the IFA and all the stakeholders involved in forestry. Yet again, they are pleading with this Government to bring forward emergency legislation to address this issue once and for all and protect the 10,000 jobs that are at risk. This Government is well able to bring forward emergency legislation at the drop of a hat when it so wishes. The situation in forestry is putting livelihoods at risk. Forestry is very important in my constituency of Laois-Offaly. Many people are involved in it in terms of the sawmills, hauliers, foresters and farmers planting. It is an ongoing crisis and we need emergency legislation for both forestry and horticulture, where another 17,000 jobs are in jeopardy. What is very noticeable about this Government is that it seems to be totally disconnected from the reality, from the lives and from the hardship faced by working people. We need protections for these livelihoods yet the Government is dragging its feet.

From speaking to the real experts, I know there are lots of measures that could be brought forward. That is the mistake the Government is making. It does not speak to the people on the ground and consult with the real experts - the stakeholders. They are the people with the knowledge. From speaking to those stakeholders, it has been brought to my attention that many improvements could be made in addition to emergency legislation such as leaving out the thinning and management aspects involved in the process, which makes the process more cumbersome and more bureaucratic than it needs to be. We know there are issues in terms of the changes to appropriate assessment but there are other jurisdictions that do not face the issues and crisis we face. We are importing timber and the cost of building materials and building new homes have increased considerably. This is unacceptable. Everybody is paying the price for the Government's lack of action. We need urgent action. Once again, I ask the Government to bring forward the emergency legislation for the forestry and horticulture sectors where up to 27,000 jobs could be protected, which I think is significant.

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