Mr. Seán Kelly:

I agree with the Minister of State on the need for a just transition fund. When it was first brought in by the European Parliament a few years ago, it was designed for the coal regions, especially in Poland and other places like that. The rapporteur happened to be the former Polish Prime Minister, Jerzy Buzek, who is a very good friend of mine, and I raised with him the need to include the peatlands as well in order that it would apply to Ireland. In fairness, he took it on board. We now have to make sure it works. The idea is that nobody should be left behind, especially communities. Where it is necessary to close an emissions burning factory, we have to make sure the community is not left behind. That is the purpose of the just transition fund.

Ms O'Sullivan referred to forestry and so forth. I know the Minister of State is working hard on that and has made a big improvement in the area but it is farcical and almost embarrassing at European level for Ireland to set a target for forestry of 8,000 ha per annum and then achieve only 2,000 ha in that regard. It is not the farmers' fault or the investors' fault. They are ready and willing to plant the forests, but they are being held back by complicated or unnecessary regulation or legislation that has been introduced over the years. That is a fact. Many sought to put the blame for this on Europe but research shows that it does not apply in many of the European countries. I agree with the Minister of State that we need to have more forests and reduce red tape. She will need support to do that. It will not be possible for her to do it on her own. The Government needs to set a target of 8,000 ha for delivery next year and it must seek to achieve that target. That would be a plus. It would help to reduce emissions.

I agree also with the Minister of State that the foresters and not the state should own the carbon.