Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Senators for their constructive feedback and their support for the Bill. There are two main issues here and the forestry aspect was added on Committee Stage in the Dáil, for a number of reasons. The main reason related to the fact the Bill was coming from the Department at which I am Minister of State and it was not going to be easy to attach the forestry aspect to a different Department's Bill, but there was also an importance in enabling us to plant more trees, the importance of which was highlighted strongly by all the Senators.

The programme for Government includes a commitment to bringing forward legislation that will prohibit fur farming. As Senator Kyne indicated, it has taken quite a while to get here, but it is here now. Fur farming is still legal, as was highlighted by Senators, but will soon become illegal. We have moved from a position where it was considered socially acceptable to one where it is perhaps less so, and there is now broad consensus, not just among society and citizens, but also among veterinary and other scientific experts that certain animals should not be farmed for their fur or skin because the serious animal welfare concerns cannot be mitigated. That has had an impact on the societal concern in respect of this issue.

As Senators mentioned, there are three active fur farms in the State that breed and rear mink for the purposes of pelting for the fur industry. This statutory prohibition on fur farming will impact on these farms, which currently operate a lawful business. For this reason, the draft legislation makes provision for a scheme of compensation, which the Department will make available to the three farm businesses affected by the prohibition. Several Senators, including Senators Paul Daly, Boyhan and Ahearn, spoke about how we have to ensure it will be a fair compensation package for the farms, and Senator Boyhan and others mentioned the workers specifically. As they noted, we will have to ensure the compensation and redundancy package they face is also fair, and we will endeavour to ensure that is the case. That is only right, and the appointment of an independent assessor will help us in that regard.

The Bill will introduce a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Animal Health and Welfare Act, most notably the forestry provisions, which include provisions to introduce a limited exemption from which a licence to carry out small-scale planting will be allowed It is important to say this is enabling legislation, not a scheme as yet, and we will engage widely with stakeholders in the design of that scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose. It must not impact negatively on the environment, water courses, land or special habitats, and we will work hard to ensure the development of such a scheme will be undertaken following the completion of a strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment, which will include stakeholder and public consultation. I hope that will ease some of the concerns expressed by Senator Black and the wider Civil Engagement Group.

Beyond the need to plant trees, there were a few queries on the size of area allowed. At the moment, it is permitted to plant up to 0.1 ha, or about 30 sq. m, without a licence. That is not accounted for in our carbon inventory, whereas anything larger than 0.1 ha is. By raising the permitted size above 0.1 ha, that area will be included, provided it is more than 20 m deep. It is not particularly straightforward, but if we were to plant, for example, a riparian margin, suitably positioned, around a river that was less than 20 m deep, that would not currently be accounted for.

Senator Paul Daly mentioned the work Teagasc is doing in respect of the inventory of hedgerows and trees outside of forests. That work is ongoing. I checked earlier today and it could involve a further year's work. Teagasc will then propose its findings to the EPA, which will make a decision as to whether to include it. That will be progress within the next couple of years. We will, I hope, get to a stage where we can include every hedgerow and potentially every type of tree-planting.Unfortunately, at the moment, from my understanding, if we were to include hedges, we would be in negative territory because we have lost more hedges than we have planted since 2018, so we would be on rather shaky ground. Hopefully, as we kick in, we will reverse that and be in a more positive situation. Plenty of hedges and habitats continue to be removed and destroyed, even as we speak.

On the timelines, we hope the fur farming Bill will be enacted once it has got through the Seanad. We have not set a commencement date as such, but I think it will happen as soon as possible. The fur farmers understand that and, as I understand it, this year's breeding season will not take place. It is fair to say they are aware of that. The engagement has been fairly extensive with my Department and I am sure my Department is open to further engagement with the fur farmers involved to make this as fair as possible. We have had an independent review of the compensation mechanisms to date and we will have to see how that pans out. We hope an independent assessor will be able to come to the fairest package possible.

Senator Kyne noted that basic payment scheme payments are available for forested land. I think there are proposals in the next CAP strategic plan, and not only for the eco-schemes under which we have identified payments for non-productive areas. If we have tree planting in a scheme under this legislation, it would help to support that. There is also a proposal to increase the eligible area to include up to 30% of scrub or rushes on types of land where farmers previously would have felt forced to drain, cut or remove. That is positive for biodiversity into the future.

In response to Senator O'Loughlin, oak is one of the species on the list of native trees. It is one of our best and most special native species, and that is to be welcomed.

With regard to updates on forestry, I know there is a lot of concern out there. In the last year, we have seen a significant turnaround in terms of the number of felling licences issued. This time last year, we were very much in a crisis in regard to felling licences, and supply to the sawmills was in difficulty. I am happy to say that is no longer the case. We do not have an issue with supply to the sawmill sector, so that has been improved. We do have an issue with the issuing of afforestation licences, which I accept. The intention this year is to double the number of afforestation licences issued, which is positive. If this legislation is passed, small-scale planting might help that target also.

What is important is to engage with farmers and landowners to make planting of trees something they want to do. There is a fear and perhaps people are dissuaded from planting trees, so we need to reverse that. We need farmers, landowners and the wider sector to engage and to promote the positive benefits of forestry for all of its functions, not only for timber production and rural economies, but also for all of the issues we understand in terms of carbon sequestration and storage, biodiversity and amenity values. Most people live relatively close to a wooded area which they certainly enjoy.

I thank all of the Senators. I hope I have answered all of the questions but, if not, Senators can contact me afterwards. I hope we can agree, as we seem to, that the prohibition of fur farming and the provision of enabling legislation to facilitate native tree planting is a positive step forward. The Bill will result in positive change to our society. I look forward to subsequent engagements on the Bill with Senators. I commend the Bill to the House.