New forestry minister 'needs to be top priority' for govt - foresters
A representative body for forest owners has told the government that the appointment of a new minister for forestry should be a top priority.
The government currently does not have a dedicated minister with responsibility for forestry, following the resignation of Michael Healy-Rae last month.
The Irish Forest Owners (IFO) group said that forestry owner producer groups around the country had "acknowledged the work, energy and commitment" of Healy-Rae.
The group called on the government to appoint his successor "without delay".
IFO said that the forest industry is critically important in Ireland's climate action programme and has faced major challenges for several years, resulting in missed afforestation targets.
IFO chairperson Nicholas Sweetman commented: "Healy- Rae’s resignation leaves a vacuum and it is imperative that a new appointment to the position of minister for forestry be made promptly.
"Any temptation to subsume the role into the portfolio of existing ministries needs to be resisted.
"Serious political heft needs to be in evidence to support the efforts of the forest service and to be fair to Michael Healy-Rae, he did supply that during his time in the job," Sweetman added.
The national annual target for afforestation has been set at 8,000ha for several years.
According to the IFO, this target has been "consistently missed" by over 60% and is "no closer to being realised this year, despite the best efforts of the forest service".
"There remain significant conflicts within national policy that affect realisation of any national forestry programme," Sweetman said.
"On the one hand the country faces massive fines for missing climate targets, possibly €18 billion from 2030; yet regarding Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, afforestation remains the country’s largest land-based climate mitigation measure," he added.
The IFO chairperson called for the government to appoint a ministry of forestry who will address the issues restricting afforestation in Ireland "head-on".
"Forestry needs to be regarded as a national strategic resource and required coherent thinking, encouragement and removal of obstacles to planting. This is not a task for a part-time minister," Sweetman remarked.
