Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, there will not be any hard pulling.

I sincerely thank Senators for their constructive contributions. Senator Ó Domhnaill referred to the shortage of ash, which was also raised by Senator Heffernan and almost all speakers. Everyone is concerned about the shortage of ash and the concern of the forestry service and the Department is to try to deal with this in the best way possible, with the best back-up and scientific knowledge available. At all times, the Department co-operated with the GAA, which we met on several occasions after it requested meetings. I thank the GAA for its input. It agreed to provide funding for research.

With regard to the question of hurley makers, it is an unusual and brilliant craft. Senator Denis Landy referred to the numbers in Limerick and Tipperary in Munster and beyond. We must try to protect the craft. We have had roundtable discussions with hurley makers on many occasions and we try to resolve the points they raise on an ongoing basis.

However, we face crisis involving a disease with which we are trying to deal. It is an airborne disease and Senator Denis Landy questioned whether it should be burned or whether burying under clay was enough. That is enough because once it is covered with clay, it cannot be airborne.

One can import timber but it would be far better to have timber here and to cut down the trees. Last Saturday, I was in a plantation in Dundrum, a few miles from where I live. It is a fabulous young plantation which will be fit for harvesting. There is no disease in it and it will come on stream. The soil in Tipperary is suitable for growing ash, which is why there is so much of it there. Many trees are being thinned so that they will be ready for harvesting in a few years' time. They will be sawn up and used in hurley production.

Clubs, including the ones mentioned by Senator Heffernan in Tipperary, have asked me where the timber will come from. This is why the GAA, at central council level, has became involved with the Department. Without giving definite guarantees, which I cannot do, I assure Senators everything is being done to ensure there will be a supply of hurleys through what is available Ireland. If not, we will be allowed to import. That great skill will be keep going and I would encourage the production of hurleys here. Given the cost of hurleys for young players, they are moving to plastic hurleys. They are not as good and we should not encourage them because of the tradition and craft that goes with hurley making.

With regard to making available subsidies, this matter was raised but at this time, a subsidy is not the right way to do it. Maybe through Leader companies, something could be put in place in the future. It is a matter that can be discussed. If young people want to set up a business and make hurleys, the Government should not stand in their way.

Many Senators referred to the new forestry scheme introduced earlier this year, which is having a huge impact. We must encourage forestry and a change in attitude among farmers who traditionally had a few animals on the land. They should see forestry as a crop that can be harvested and sent to the mill. It can create rural employment. Over 10,000 people are employed in the forestry industry and more trucks are drawing timber to mills in Ireland than are drawing cattle to meat plants and factories. That is an amazing statistic which can be built on. The Government is fully committed to the forestry programme.I am at pains at all times to encourage people to use their marginal land. I am not speaking in this regard about good land that can be used for dairy or beef production. There is a huge amount of marginal land throughout the country that could be made available for forestry. Like Senator Ó Domhnaill, I would encourage far more productive use of that land than is currently the case. There are many schemes in place to support this, through which substantial revenue can be gained. Many people who have inherited farms but live in Dublin, including in my own area, could ensure that land is put to good use. This would be of real value to the economy, not only in the context of jobs in rural areas but in the context of achievement of our carbon reductions. The new forestry programme has the support of all of the main farming organisations. It is a programme of which I, too, am fully supportive.

TreeMetrics was mentioned in the context of an app launched last year. The app we launched last week with the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O'Neill was in relation to the disease. TreeMetrics is the organisation that developed the technology which allows a forest owner to measure the quantity of wood in his or her forest prior to selling it. This is of major advantage to private forestry owners, particularly those with no great knowledge in this area. It is a good idea, which I launched last year.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about co-operation with Northern Ireland and the Minister for Agriculture and rural Development, Michelle O'Neill. There is North-South co-operation on a huge range of issues across the agriculture industry. This morning, I visited the Teagasc centre in Ashtown in relation to its research on the future of food, on which issue there is North-South co-operation. I welcome the opportunity to work in co-operation with Northern Ireland and have no qualms in doing so.

Senator Quinn and others raised the issue of biodiversity. I am aware of the importance of further research to assess the impact of ash disease on the environment. In regard to the book from which the Senator read a passage, I would like to have a look at that book. FRAXBACK action, which I referred to earlier, is a collaboration of more than 100 scientists to address this issue. The Department will work with this group into the future.

Senator Quinn also made an important point on an issue close to my heart, namely, community involvement in the growth of trees. Agencies such as Coillte and private foresters grow trees for financial advantage. Grants are available under the new GLAS scheme for the plantation by people of groups of trees on the roadside, on farms and so on. Local authorities and councils also provide grants for the planting of trees. The greater the number of trees planted by tidy towns committees etc., the more points they get. We should try to ensure that into the future local authorities encourage the planting of more trees in our towns, villages, streets and schools. Last year, I planted a tree in the local school in my area. This created great conversation among the schoolchildren and had a great impact on the immediate environment. Forestry is a subject of interest to many people. There are so many different varieties of trees, some of which take a long time to grow while others are fast growing. It is an issue of huge environmental connect. I support the Senator's call for the payment of grants into the future in respect of tree planting. It may be possible to do so through tidy towns committees and so on.

Senator Whelan raised an issue relevant to his constituency. I have received correspondence on this matter, not only from the Senator but from many people in his constituency. I acknowledge this is an issue. I am due to visit the area next Saturday week and would be happy to meet then any group to discuss the issue. Since taking up my post as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine I have had a lot of dealings with Coillte. In my opinion, it is pro-development of walkways countrywide, including through forests. The Forest Service is encouraging community development and involvement in this regard. There is also a scheme in place through which financial aid is available to communities. Walkways are being opened up through the Galtee Mountains in Tipperary, in Kerry and many other areas. I commend Coillte on its work throughout the country in terms of the development of tourism from forestry. Rather than hammering Coillte, I would like to work with it on these issues. I have listened to and heard what the Senator had to say and I am happy to meet a deputation on the issue when I am in the area next Saturday week.

I thank Senators from all sides of the House for the opportunity to debate this issue. I also thank my officials who, as rightly pointed out by many Senators, have worked very hard on addressing this issue. It is not an easy problem to resolve. We do not know where we will be in this regard in six months time. I cannot give any guarantees as we do not know what will happen. During our discussions on this matter prior to coming to the Seanad for this debate, one of my officials pointed out to me that there is no way we can anticipate what might happen six or 12 months down the road. We are protecting the species. Reference was made to the European issue. We are ahead of what is being done in Europe because of the importance of this to our country. I again thank the officials from all sections of the Department for their commitment and dedicated work on this issue.

I take this opportunity to also thank my predecessor, the late Shane McEntee, to whom many Senators referred, for his great work and leadership on this issue.