Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if legal proceedings will be initiated under the Forestry Act 1946, section 4 (3) in a case (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16843/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if proceeding will be taken under the Forestry Act 1946 in relation to the illegal felling of trees in County Mayo; and if so, the position on the matter. [16886/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 463 together.

Following an inspection of this case by the Forestry Inspectorate of my Department in February of this year it was recommended that prosecution be pursued under the Forestry Act 1946, as the felling took place without a Licence. The matter has now been passed to the Legal Department of my Department to initiate legal proceedings. Under the Forestry Act 1946 Section 4(3) proceedings may be instituted at any time within one year from the date of the offence.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food her targets to increase the planting of new forestry to support climate change strategy and to reduce annual imported fossil fuel spend and lower carbon emissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16493/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are no specific targets for afforestation to support climate change strategy in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, published in April 2007. The Strategy does, however, acknowledge the key role played by the forestry sector in addressing climate change through emission reductions, carbon sequestration and the development of renewable energy resources. One of the main reasons for the continued significant investment in forestry is the positive effect it has on climate change.