I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
The felling of conifer seed stands is the normal practice to facilitate seed collection. Following the felling of such seed stands, new or replacement stands are added to the seed stand register. The period over which the 1,474 hectares of seed stands referred to by the Deputy have been felled extends back, in fact, to 1973 when EU Directives 66/404 and 71/161 on forest reproductive materials first applied in Ireland. However, a significantly greater area has over the years been added to the register and the existing area of registered seed stands totals almost 4,800 hectares.
In the years up to and including 1997 the felling of seed stands was authorised under the general felling licence procedure. In 1998 and 1999 the felling of seed stands required a limited felling licence in recognition of the sensitivity of such stands.