My Department is aware of this proposal and has raised the matter with the European Commission. There are current environmental constraints in place which do not allow for the proposal to be implemented.
It is my Department's position that there is a scientific rationale laid out in the Land types for Afforestation document for planting on land classified as GPC 1. Furthermore, the Environmental Requirements for Afforestation focused on consolidating all relevant safeguards into a single coherent document dealing exclusively with afforestation, and takes onboard more recent developments in relation to regulation, research and changes in forest practices. We will continue to explore the matter and possible options for the effective use of GPC 1 land.