asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if the Review Group on Forestry which was established in November last has yet reported; the principal recommendations of the group; if the full report of the group will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Review Group.
2.
This report has not yet reached me. However, I am aware that the group's deliberations are well advanced and I hope to receive their findings within the next few months. The question of publication of the report will be a matter for the Government in due course.
I asked this question because the Minister informed me last November or December that such a review group had been established and that they would submit a report to him by 1 June 1985. What is the position in regard to the report?
The review group to which the Deputy referred was set up on 7 November. The original intention was that they would report to me by 1 June. However, despite their best efforts they have not done so and I accept the reason for the delay because they went into the whole question of what they were undertaking very deeply within the terms of reference which applied to them. It now transpires that, because of the in-depth scrutiny of the question, the date of the delivery of the report has been deferred. I have intimated to the group that I would prefer to get a comprehensive report two months later than a somewhat less comprehensive one on the deadline. I am sure the Deputy will agree that it would be much preferable to get it that way. I am told I will have the report some time in September.
Will the Minister indicate the main reason why the report has been delayed? Most people understand the difficulties in the timber industry at present. Genuine people involved in the industry have already made recommendations——
The Deputy cannot make a speech at Question Time.
My question arises out of the Minister's reply. Will the Minister give us some indication——
The Deputy has already asked that question.
——of what is delaying the report bearing in mind that what is needed is Government action to save the timber industry?
I am quite happy with the reasons given to me for the delay. I should like to compliment the review group on the amount of work they have done. Those people have been meeting regularly. Their last meeting was on Monday, 24 June and further meetings are in the course of preparation. I am quite happy that the reason for the deferment of the deadline is satisfactory in that the people involved have gone into the matter in great detail. Much of the work they undertook proved to be somewhat more complex than was originally anticipated. As I told Deputy Mac Giolla, I would much prefer to have full comprehensive report in September than have a half-baked less comprehensive one on the deadline. I am sure that would suit the Deputy and would be better for the industry.
The Minister already has a number of detailed and comprehensive reports at his disposal in the Department.
The question is about a report that will be coming and not about whether it should have been commissioned or not.
Will the Minister give some indication of the reason for the delay? Is there disagreement among the group about the possible recommendations?
None.
The Minister should tell us the recommendations.
The people involved wish to do the job properly. They are taking every step to ensure that the report will be a comprehensive one that can be acted on when the time comes.
I must move on to the next question. We are having repetition and that is a waste of time.
The Minister is aware of the reason why the report has been delayed. Will he tell us the reason for the delay?
The Minister has already answered that question.
Everybody knows what needs to be done.
The Deputy is inferring something which is totally untrue.
The Minister knows something he is not telling us.
I do not. I should like to know what makes the Deputy infer infighting in the committee which is totally without foundation.
The Minister is telling us half of the story.
Mr. Kirk rose.
I am not going to stay at this question all day.
I have been waiting some time to ask a supplementary question.
If the question is not relevant I will disallow it.
We spent two minutes on this question but 15 minutes was allowed on the previous one.
We are not going to have a debate.
At a time when the second largest amount of imports relates to timber and timber products, the report of the review group is of vital importance. It concerns the future of our economy. With regard to the delay in getting the report of the review group, and bearing in mind that we can anticipate comprehensive proposals to set the forestry industry on the right road. I should like to point out to the Minister that time is rolling by. It is anticipated that by the end of the century we will be in serious trouble as far as the availability of timber and timber products is concerned.
That is a speech. I am calling the next question. The Deputy has been on his feet for some minutes but he has not yet got to the question.
The Minister should ask to have the report introduced quickly so that the proposals in it can be implemented speedily.
The Deputy is talking about the end of the century but I am talking about the end of September.