Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is the middle of March and so far we are unable to process any new applications because our formal application to the European Commission has not yet been made. In January the Minister was asked specifically how many hectares were planted. He said 1,000 ha. That is important because the 1,000 ha the Minister of State has cited might be virtually all of the planting that will take place in the first half of this year. Just 1,000 ha when the target is 8,000 ha per annum; that has been missed every single year, wildly, since the Minister of State has been in Government. The only notable thing we can say she has achieved is putting her signature to a Letter of Expectation to Coillte that allowed it to engage in the Gresham House joint venture. That is the only thing we can credit her with in her term as Minister of State with responsibility for afforestation. As a Green Party Minister of State, she needs to take her share of the blame for the absolute debacles we have. We are missing our climate action targets in regard to tree planting by miles.

See this speech in context