A Cavan/Monaghan TD has asked that Minister of State, Pipa Hackett, and Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalouge, come before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee to explain why the Department has stopped processing afforestation licences.
Sinn Fein's Deputy Matt Carthy made the request after it emerged that existing applications for tree planting were paused and no new applications are being accepted after the Department of Agriculture failed to secure European Commission approval for the new forestry programme.
Speaking to Northern Sound Deputy Carthy said, that last October, voices from the forestry sector warned, that if the Government failed to put a new forestry programme in place by January the 1st, the impact would be devastating for all those involved.
He pointed out that the issues have arisen because of an extension by two years to the 2014-2020 forestry programme which also afforded the Government an opportunity to outline its vision for forestry in Ireland.
Deputy Carthy added the sector is now in serious crisis and Department of Agriculture chiefs must take responsibility for the chaos that has emerged.
