Independent Senator Victor Boyhan has renewed his call for the establishment of a national forestry authority.

Boyhan said this is needed to "help restore farmers’ and foresters' confidence" in the industry. 

He said that the appointment of Niall Collins as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) "presents a new opportunity" to raise again the issue of establishing a designated national state agency for forestry. 

Senator Boyhan said: “At the moment, we have Coillte, a semi-state, and the private sector working at a different pace and providing a mixed range of supports and separately advocating to grow core numbers to increase forestry outputs.

"I have long advocated for a national forestry authority with combined strength and overall coordination and ambition to maximise the growth of forestry and regulate where necessary."

Boyhan said it could also work to ensure "fair competition, faster licensing processes and equal access to funding and allied supports to grow output across the sector".

Forestry authority

The senator is calling on Minister Collins to "be open to considering all options" around the possibility of a national forestry authority and asked him to consider the option of a period of consultation with all stakeholders on the matter. 

“It is important that we build on the good work of former Minister of State Michael Healy Rae who worked hard to build trust and a degree confidence in the sector over the last 18 months," Boyhan said.

“The establishment of a national forestry authority should be the goal; forestry is a natural and national asset that needs to be nurtured and encourage."