Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reason I support this amendment is that I believe the public has to understand the target and the process, and understand that not everybody can live surrounded by a bare landscape if we are to plant 400 million trees over the next 20 years. The Wicklow Mountains will change. The land in Roscommon and Leitrim will change.Views we used to have will no longer be there. We must get serious if we are going afforest this country. Senator Boyhan gave me a book about the history of afforestation policy in Ireland, going back to Count Plunkett, Sean MacBride and several others who were determined to transform this country with serious afforestation. It creates jobs. We live in a world where the consumption of meat from sheep and cattle is in decline and there are constraints on that form of agriculture. Afforestation is hugely important, and in supporting this amendment, I ask that we remember full transparency regarding the reports being received is a good idea to bring the people with us in this process.

I want to be clear that is not to assist those minorities who want to hold up the process of afforestation. I believe in afforestation, and if we are telling people the truth about the 400 million trees over 20 years or 250 million trees over ten years, we must get serious about this and stop the codology and stop the capacity of people, including people who do not even have to pay a fee, to get involved in afforestation plans and proposals which have very little to do with them. I am supporting the amendment, but I am much more supportive of the Bill.