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

I made the point, which was factual, that this Government is disconnected. I have spoken to supporters of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and I am genuinely and honestly telling the Tánaiste that there is a serious level of disconnect and the Government is not reaching out to the stakeholders and listening to the experts. It is all very well and good having a tokenistic meeting but following through on this and the commitments on the programme for Government is another matter. The Government is missing its own climate action targets. It has committed to planting 8,000 hectares annually. It is missing its own targets. I am hearing from constituents. I represent everybody in the constituency. Like the Tánaiste, I was elected but unlike him, I listen to the people on the ground all the time and I carry through on my commitments.

It is very obvious that this Government cannot see the wood for the trees. Some 27,000 jobs in horticulture and forestry are at stake. This matter could be resolved easily if the Government had the political will to do so and if it listened to its own supporters, it would be done. However, it is because rural Ireland is neglected all of the time and is not top of the agenda for the Government. This neglect of rural Ireland is the real issue.

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