Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Boyhan on his contribution. We should accept his bona fides and those of Senator McDowell. In the time I have got to know her, I have found the Minister of State to be one of the most honourable people in politics. The backdrop to this Bill relates to what she said about having the right tree in the right place. If we are serious about afforestation, let us listen to what the different groups and sectors are saying. Let us listen to what Fórsa said about representing the workers in the forestry sector. Some 12,000 jobs will be affected. The sector contributes €2.3 billion to our economy. Senator McDowell was right about former Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's contributions in the previous Seanad. During my time as Leader, I was the victim of those contributions on the Order of Business on a number of occasions, and there was confusion over the number of trees and the programme. The Minister of State has, to paraphrase herself, inherited this Bill and been handed it.

I was struck by the contributions of IBEC - although I would not necessarily follow everything it says - and Imelda Hurley, who spoke about the need for a properly resourced forestry appeals committee. If we are to meet our obligations under European directives and acknowledge where we are meant to be, this Bill needs to be progressed, notwithstanding the genuineness of the contributions and the amendments. Some of the Members shedding crocodile tears about taking all Stages of the Bill will come in here on their own Private Members' time and demand that all Stages of their legislation be taken or they will write to all Senators and state that theirs is the only way. One would swear that some of them are on the Via Dolorosa from the way they behave, but we will come back to that. I understand the sincerity of Members in this regard.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach will remember a previous Government - I am not sure whether Senator McDowell was part of it but I do not think he was - which gave money to farmers to plant trees on their farmland. The Minister of State's comment is pertinent because this is about planting the right tree in the right place. Senator Boyhan is also right about balancing these measures with the Greens and environmentalists. We must get that right. This is good legislation.