Irish forest machinery contractors should have a voice at the table of the new forestry policy group that has been established, the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has contended.
In a brief statement on the matter yesterday (Tuesday, November 24), the contractor representative group said:
“FCI has requested that a member of its forestry division be immediately nominated to join the newly formed forestry policy group set up by Minister Hackett and the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The voice of the Irish forest machinery contractors must be included in all forest policy decisions that will determine the future development of the sector from now on.
This follows the first meeting of the forestry policy group which was scheduled for last week, according to Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Pippa Hackett.
The senator, whose portfolio is that of land use and biodiversity within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said in a webinar – ‘Teagasc Research Insights Webinars – Demands on our land’ – last Wednesday morning (November 18) that the new group aims to “represent as many stakeholders as possible” in the industry.
She said that it is time to “get out of the mess” that the forestry sector is in.