Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is in fairyland. The Government can congratulate itself all it likes, but its targets are not being met. Only 4,728 ha have been licensed this year. That is not an achievement, but a missed target.

This topic has taken up most of the time of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine since I have been a member of it. Time and again, we have been told that the system is not working. What is holding the Department back? Why are private licences faring the worst? This is being noticed and commented on by foresters, a growing number of whom are no longer choosing to plant. There is a problem in our forestry sector now, but this Government will be responsible for a greater problem 20 or 25 years down the road when no one will be planting. There is frustration in the sector no matter where one turns. Under the RUS, foresters have waited more than two years just to get letters from the Department seeking more information.

The Minister of State mentioned that the situation was going well. The Mackinnon report spawned other reports, but even it is not being adhered to.

See this speech in context