Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate this comments about my contribution being taken into account and that the Minister will look at this in the review and, I hope, come up with something that is fit for purpose. Earlier this year, I visited forestry in Tipperary with some private forestry owners. It was the first time I was shown the symptoms of ash dieback and what to look out for with ash trees. Ever since being shown that I have seen the disease everywhere. Around my home area in west Cork it is along roadsides. Big, beautiful mature ash trees are slowly dying. This is going to have devastating consequences for biodiversity. It will destroy habitat and our whole landscape will change.

In all that, we cannot forget the impact this is having on families and individuals. It is absolutely devastating. I reiterate that we encouraged people to plant these plantations as forestry. We told them to do it for their future and for Irish culture. They were let down. Ash dieback came to these shores through no fault of theirs. The least we can do is formulate and design a RUS that is fit for purpose and compensates them for the losses they have made. I am encouraged by the Minister of State's comments on reviewing the RUS but this needs to happen fast. These families have been dealing with this disease for years now. I would really appreciate it if we could get some concrete answers and a redesigned scheme so these families and individuals can move on with their lives.

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