asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he has any proposals under consideration to establish a review body to examine and make recommendations on an appropriate form for the more effective operation of the State forestry sector.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Forestry Sector.
7.
No such proposals are under consideration. However, I might add that the matter is being kept under constant review.
The Minister gave some indication here recently that he had set up a special review team within his Department to examine this whole question. Is the Minister of State now saying that that review group team does not exist? Will any further action be taken in this special area, which has been the subject of much criticism from the industry and those people involved in it, of the whole question of the methods by which forestry will be developed in the future to enable us reap the maximum potential by way of jobs, opportunities and indeed revenue for the State through the full exploitation of our timber resources?
While I understand the Minister said at the time that there is at present an inter-departmental committee sitting, I should say that we are awaiting that report. I understand that their report will be available in the very near future. However, I cannot give the exact date. That is my understanding of any undertaking given by the Minister.
Is the Minister of State satisfied that the present position in relation to the structures whereby our timber resources are being exploited are adequate to deal with the current situation? If he is so satisfied has he taken into account the dissatisfaction there is generally within the industry and throughout the country about the methods by which forestry is being exploited and the feeling that we are not getting the maximum return or that our potential is not being fully exploited in the present situation?
The purpose of the inter-departmental committee set up was to examine the specific points the Deputy has mentioned. Until I receive their report on those points I would not care to comment. I am not pleased, and any Minister working in my Department would endeavour to improve the situation, particularly where there is a natural resource involved. My first priority must be the acquisition of land, which is the basis of all afforestation, and then we can move into other areas. But I cannot move until this report is made available to me.