Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House this evening. I thank Senator Boyhan and the Independent Group for using their Private Members' time to discuss this very important matter. As was mentioned earlier, over 80% of this great country was once covered in forests. The current figure is just over 11.6%, and we have a significant target of 18% to reach by 2050. How we get near that target is an important conversation for us all to have. That is why this debate is so important. Our opinion is that it must involve a State-led fund targeted at furthering Irish-owned and managed forestry enterprise. Unfortunately, I am not a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine, like most colleagues who are present tonight.

As part of this debate, it is important to discuss the recently proposed partnership between Coillte and a UK-based investment fund, Gresham House. In the opinion of the Labour Party, this is a bad deal, a bad concept and a bad idea for many reasons. The forestry sector has been crying out for assistance for years. As outlined in the motion, recent figures show that the Government is only reaching one quarter of its afforestation targets, with 2010 being the last year that more than 8,000 ha were planted. The partnership to which I refer has been opposed by many organisations, including the Irish Farmers Association. The Irish Wildlife Trust called it a scandal and the Irish Forest Owners have described it as being not in the best interests of rural areas.

Why is the Government satisfied with a deal that so many of those who work in the sector and people directly affected by it are not happy with? The Labour Party understands that a new approach must be taken in respect of forestry. This country is nowhere near meeting its targets, and is unlikely to meet them by bringing in foreign investors to buy up Irish land. It is not a solution we can support.

In a recent debate on forestry in the Dáil at which the Minister of State was present, my colleagues, Deputies Kelly and Sherlock, stated that the Government should support the industry directly by means of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, investment of new capital or a fund such as that proposed by Senator Boyhan this evening, rather than outsourcing all the profits to the private sector. Such funds would be used to far greater effect by increasing our level of afforestation through Irish-based investment and supporting Irish farmers to plant their lands.

This debate presents an opportunity to raise the disaster that was ash dieback, a matter that has still not been fully addressed. Farmers whose crops were affected by that disease need to be given proper financial assistance and encouraged to resume planting. The Irish Farmers Association's farm forestry chair, Jason Fleming, recently welcomed a commitment from the Minister of State to review the ash dieback scheme this year. Mr. Fleming is quoted as saying that affected farmers have been waiting long enough and need to know when the review will be completed. He stated:

Ash dieback has had a devastating impact on ash plantations and therefore has had a significant effect on the commercial value of the timber crop. The current scheme is wholly inadequate and does not compensate farmers for the financial loss incurred by the disease.

Teagasc estimates that up to 90% of ash trees will succumb to this disease. That will have serious implications not only for timber production but also in the context of amenities, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, landscape and culture. Without proper financial encouragement from the State provided by means of a national forestry fund, as has been discussed here tonight, who will blame these landowners for never getting involved again? I support the information campaign on the forestry industry to which Senator Paul Daly referred.

A timely workable forestry licensing scheme is the foundation that is urgently needed for any afforestation in this country. Those in the industry say that, despite recent improvements, this continues to be the biggest drawback for them. It is a major drawback for those thinking about using their lands and investing in afforestation.

We welcome this timely debate. The need for investment and assistance in the industry is urgent. The environmental crisis calls for urgent State intervention. It is our opinion that the domestic industry is more than capable of once again increasing afforestation in this country given such investment and assistance, and given clear timely licences to achieve it. We thank the Independent Group for tabling the motion. I look froward to the Minister of State offering a positive response.