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

I wish to raise the issue of the forestry crisis again. I have raised it many times in the House, including during Leaders' Questions. This week, there was another meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine where my colleague, Deputy Michael Collins, also raised the matter.

This situation is becoming a national scandal and embarrassment. Some 6,000 licence applications are caught up in a backlog and our sawmills are importing timber. The construction industry is also affected and 10,000 jobs hang in the balance. These are rural jobs that serve local economies. We need action. Will the Tánaiste play his part in introducing emergency legislation to end this crisis once and for all? Too many jobs are at stake. There is significant concern among sawmill operators, foresters, hauliers and farmers. We need to resolve this issue.

1 o’clock

There have been six meetings of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and this still has not been resolved. It is an absolute shambles at this stage.

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