John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 609: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has made representations at EU level concerning the European Commission's proposal for a Council regulation on support for rural development 2007-13; if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of the Society of Irish Foresters that the proposed major cutbacks in grant aid and support of afforestation will seriously damage the role forestry is now playing in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10234/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am very much aware of the concerns of the Society of Irish Foresters about the proposals for forestry contained in the draft Rural Development Regulation 2007-2013. The draft regulation was first published by the European Commission last summer, and is the subject of ongoing negotiations in Brussels. These are merely proposals at this stage and are some way from agreement in their present format.

From the outset, the Irish position on the draft regulation on forestry has been clear. We have continually and consistently made known our opposition to the Commission's proposals on forestry establishment grants, premiums and associated premium payment periods. We will continue to work at all levels to achieve the best possible deal for Ireland in the admittedly tough negotiations that lie ahead. Early in the process I established a consultative liaison group, comprising representatives of the forestry sector, which meets regularly. Through this group, on which the Society of Irish Foresters is represented, the sector is consulted and informed of developments.