New Forestry Minister Needed Without Delay

IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton has raised his concerns over the delay in announcing the next Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry.

“Michael Healy-Rae resigned as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) over a week ago. He had made progress in the sector during his tenure and it is important that momentum is not lost,” he said.

“To date, no new Minister has been appointed. The Government needs to show its commitment by appointing a new Minister without any further delay,” he said.

“The appointment will come at a critical period for the sector. The current Forestry Programme 2023-2027 failed to deliver the Government’s ambitious targets. This is due to successive policy decisions such as restrictions on planting productive land; increasing environmental regulation; rising costs associated with managing small farm forests; unworkable conditions being attached to licences; inadequate compensation for farmers with ash dieback; as well as growing concerns regarding risks to plant health,” outlined Padraig Stapleton.

“The current development work of the next Forestry Programme 2028-2032 must restore confidence and revive farmers’ interest in planting.  Without a Minister leading the forestry sector, farmer confidence in the sector cannot be restored.”