Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister spoke earlier of the Government's environmental credentials. In that regard, there has been a lot of discussion about forestry and the solution that it offers to Ireland's environmental problems, in particular in respect of carbon sequestration, etc. However, the figures demonstrate a very different story. To date this year, seven afforestation licences have been approved. There have been 21 approvals under the ash dieback scheme. That is shambolic. This weekend, we are halfway through the year. The longest day of the year has come and gone. Planting season is coming and going. When challenged up to now, the Government has offered the classic response of British Tory Governments over the years, which is to blame the European Commission.

It looks like this year is going to see the lowest plantation levels in the history of the State while the Government talks great talk about the need to afforest this country. What is going on? What will be done to bring afforestation levels up to the Government's own targets?

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