Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask that the Leader would organise a debate in this House on the issue of forestry. Forestry and the continued planting of trees is really important to our economy from a couple of perspectives. First, there is a shortage of timber in Europe for construction and Ireland could benefit handsomely into the future if an appropriate level of planting is done to meet the needs of the next generation. In addition to that, the planting of forestry has a really positive impact on the environment, in that it removes carbon from the atmosphere and continues to do so over its life cycle.

I have met foresters in recent weeks, as have others in this House. They are really concerned about the lack of an initiative from Government in terms of what will be ready for planting next year. State intervention and incentives are required and there is real concern that there is no plan in place to allow foresters to plan for next year's forestry planting. I would like to see that resolved without delay.The next aspect of that is those who want to plant forestry and cut their timber have to go through a licensing process, which takes forever. There are people waiting two, three and four years to get licenses and permissions. We have to find a simpler way.

When trees and cash crops are planted, such as Sitka spruce or whatever it is, they are planted with the expectation that they will be harvested when they are ready, within 25 to 30 years. Why do we have to have a whole series of licensing at every step? Can we accept that if somebody is given a licence to plant a wood with the ultimate purpose of cutting it, there should not be a need to go back progressively to get more permissions to put a road into it in order to take the timber out or have another licence to fell or replant? If it is to be planted, let there be a one-stop shop and one permission to get it done. Put it all in at the beginning, even if it takes a little bit of time then. There should not be this elongated process that goes on for a decade. I would like to see that as soon as possible and have a solid debate here on that issue.