Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Cahill for those points, which I will relay to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. I completely concur that, when confidence is low in a sector like the forestry sector, the running sores have to be addressed and fixed. This is one such item. In fairness to the Minister of State, that is what she is attempting to do with this review. We look forward to its publication very soon. We now have a new forestry programme. Despite lengthy delays in getting approval from Brussels, we have finally got it over the line and are now in a position where, if we get our response to issues like ash dieback right, we can turn a corner on them and bring confidence back into the sector by looking after those who have been affected. Obviously, the Minister of State and her officials need to consider the report. It will be published. The resolution outlined in my earlier response needs to meet state aid rules, public spending codes and the relevant Acts but I hope we will have clarity on that in the very near future.

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