Vol. 456 No. 7
26 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to pursue the development of an afforestation and timber processing policy for the island of Ireland with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture. [14363/95]
My Department is responsible for the development of afforestation policies in this State, and in collaboration with the Department of Enterprise and Employment, for timber processing policies. Broadly similar arrangements exist in Northern Ireland. Of course, the impact of such policies within the two jurisdictions affects the whole island of Ireland and, indeed elsewhere. There is already a substantial level of cross-Border trade in timber and in timber products and there is an increasing integration within the timber processing industry on the island. I believe that the existing liaison process is satisfactory and provides considerable benefits, particularly in the afforestation, trade and plant protection areas, to forest industry participants and the sector as a whole in both jurisdictions. It is clearly desirable in these circumstances that policies in these areas are complementary. To this end, there is regular liaison between my Department and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture. It is a matter which I keep under review and if the level of liaison needed requires strengthening in any way, I will certainly raise the matter with my counterpart in Northern Ireland.
I am glad of the Minister's reply but he does not state what specific action has been taken with regard to the production of an all-Ireland afforestation and timber processing policy. He has been long on rhetoric and there is very little substance to his reply. Perhaps he might tell us exactly when the last meeting was between either himself and his opposite number in Northern Ireland on this matter, or between his officials and Northern Ireland officials?
On Monday of this week I went to Enniskillen to meet BALCAS.
The ground shook there.
They gave me a particularly warm welcome and were delighted to see me. They have not seen too many of my predecessors. Junior Ministers have nearly always taken responsibility for forestry. I have taken a personal interest in this sector and I think it will benefit from my assiduous efforts in that regard. A joint forestry liaison group meets twice yearly to deal with all forestry matters, representing both Departments. There are two cochairpersons and the group meets here and in Northern Ireland. There was a full exchange of information.
In relation to the sawmilling sector, my discussions with BALCAS, and the fact that BALCAS, based in Enniskillen, is Coillte's largest customer, buying 23 per cent of their log sales, there is a huge exchange. Ultimately our forestry will be based on exports so we will have to take an all-Ireland view of this. Forbairt and the forestry service are very anxious, both at planting level, at sawmilling level and in all aspects of exchange of technical information to work as closely together as possible and if the Deputy has any suggestions as to how to improve the liaison, I would be happy to implement them.
That concludes priority questions for today.
