Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I welcome the legislation to prohibit fur farming in Ireland. We are looking at promoting more sustainable fashion but also that we in Ireland would be leaders in animal welfare. It is crucial that there be a package for the farmers that are impacted by their loss of income.

I am particularly interested in the small-scale planting of native trees that is part of the Bill whereby we can increase the native tree planting area by removing the requirement for an afforestation licence for an area of not less than 0.1 ha. and not greater than 1 ha. This is really important for encouraging farmers to take benefit, not to have to do the administrative part of applying for another licence. Can the Minister of State give an update on forestry licences and so on? How many ecologists have been taken on by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deal with the challenges we have seen in forestry over the last year or two?

I look forward to lots more coming through the Minister of State's remit, particularly under organics although that is not what we are here to talk about. I look forward to an update in that regard. I am sure we will engage again. Hopefully the Minister of State will visit the areas of Roscommon and east Galway in future.