James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for yielding some of her time. I appreciate that. I am here this evening as a Deputy from Cork East, a constituency that has a very large amount of forestry and timber processing. I have often discussed these with the Minister of State. I compliment the Chairman of the joint committee, Deputy Cahill, and Deputy Flaherty, who are Fianna Fáil members, on the work they have done to bring this report to the House for discussion.

It is extraordinarily prudent to consider this subject given the crisis that faces forestry in Ireland. Much of the timber imported into the Republic comes into Cobh, a major town in my constituency. That timber is brought to processing facilities right around the county. I am particularly concerned, however. The issue I want to raise this evening is the requirement for clarity. I grew up on a farm, just as the Minister of State lives on a farm. There is a need for clarification for those who wish to get involved in forestry. At present, many are listening to our ongoing debates and taking note of many things that are discouraging them from getting involved. We need to have trees planted in this country for climate reasons and for the commercial activity it brings to rural areas.

An interesting point made to me by Forest Industries Ireland, which I thank for its ongoing engagement with me as a Deputy, is that every hectare of new forestry and its timber will offset 150 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in its lifetime. Therefore, for every 1,000 ha of new forestry, 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide are removed from our atmosphere. That is a staggering fact. It is a clear incentive for the State to try to promote commercial forestry. I am aware that environmental issues are important to the Minister of State and her party but, as a Fianna Fáil Deputy, I want to try to be a voice for commercial forest activity because of the level of investment in jobs and enterprise. Even in Fermoy, a small rural town in my constituency, approximately 150 jobs are directly supported by timber-processing facilities. It is crucial, therefore, that we try to address the licensing issues.

The Minister of State committed to having her Department issue 4,500 licences this year but I am concerned that this target looks like it will be missed. I ask the Minister of State to put her shoulder to the wheel this month and in December, and even in early January, to honour the commitments we have given as members of Government parties. Above all else, she should address the need for clarification. If people want to get into the industry and if we want more trees planted, we must deal with the issues in front of us. The work that Deputies Cahill and Carey have done along with their colleagues is very much welcome.

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