asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the action that is being undertaken by the EC to establish a Community timber policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Timber Policy.
12.
If the Deputy is referring to the formulation by the EC of a common forestry policy the position is that no such proposals are under consideration. Nevertheless, various forestry measures have been initiated from time to time on an ad hoc basis, e.g. the forestry element of the Western Package in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1820/80 and at present, in the review of the structural directives in agriculture, certain measures to encourage afforestation by farmers have been proposed by the Commission. In recent months also discussions have taken place in the Community on a draft Council resolution proposed by the Commission in 1983 for a Community action programme regarding forestry and forest-based industries, but these discussions have not yet reached the stage where one could say what the outcome may be.
The Minister will be aware that there is from the Council a resolution on forestry and that there has been some discussion on the subject. I would like some indication as to the line which he is adopting in the Council, bearing in mind the vast market here, the employment potential and the total trade and other implications of such a policy. Is he also aware of the desirability of having such a policy and is he pressing for such a policy? Have we representation on the advisory committee? What action are the Government taking on this issue?
There is an involvement by us. There are meetings of a committee as far as I understand, twice a year. The heads of forestry services meet informally on these occasions. An effort was made some time ago to formalise this group. However, a problem arose in that there is no provision for wood production under the Treaty of Rome provisions. This has caused difficulty on the forestry front within the EC. The draft resolution to which the Deputy refers emerged concerning objectives and actions to be taken on a Community strategy regarding what is called the wood chain. Some progress has been made on this during the recent Irish Presidency. It is currently with COREPER under the Italian Presidency. I would advise the House that this is far from being a common forestry policy, or the emergence of same, because of the basic difficulty of its non-inclusion in the Treaty of Rome provisions. I would also point out that I am not personally involved in this because forestry comes under the umbrella of the Agricultural Council. I am, however, in close contact with my colleague. We would like to see progress along these lines in order to develop plans that would be to our advantage for the future of the forestry area within the EC.
The Minister will be aware that in the Community as a whole we now have the second largest consumer of wood and wood products and in the employment area there are probably in the region of 1.5 million people in the Community directly or indirectly employed in the wood and paper industries generally. The Minister will also be aware of the importance from a regional aspect of the development of our own industry. Could he ensure that in any discussions taking place for the formulation of policy for timber development in the future the case which we can make for development here will be fully put forward? Will he ensure that we will have the fullest possible representation on any advisory committees or in any other discussions taking place on the formulation of policy in the future?
I can give the Deputy and the House that assurance.