Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State and I have had a very brief conversation about trees in general but the principle of afforestation is very close to my heart. Ireland is one of the most biospherically depleted countries in the European Union. It always strikes me when travelling through the country how empty it is of woodlands and trees, particularly native species and the deciduous mix we should have. I wholeheartedly support what Senator Boyhan has proposed. I take great encouragement from the Minister of State's response and all the various initiatives that are in place. I wish everybody the best of luck with it. I look forward to a time when we have a landscape that is back to something like it ought to look like and an environment that we should be living in. It is so depleted at the moment we can only improve from where we are.