Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said that the next government must work to "grow" Ireland's forestry industry and support stakeholders in doing so.

The deputy is expected to take up a role as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with special responsibility for forestry, horticulture and farm safety.

The deputy said that farmers, who work to better their land, are "the solution" when it comes to the environment.

"Farmers are the real custodians of the environment. They are the real green party," Deputy Healy-Rae said.

The deputy said that each farmer is working "to do their best" for the environment, "whether that is within pig husbandry, within sheep, cattle, or dairy".

"So I'll keep saying this for the next five years - farmers are not the problem, but they are the solution," Deputy Healy-Rae said.

"We must work with them and we must protect the family farms. We must try and grow our forestry industry, we have to try and grow our horticulture industry," he added.

There has been much delay within the department of agriculture in terms of distributing of forestry licencing, with 588 afforestation licences issued for 2023, with figures dating until December 20.

Deputy Healy-Rae said that everyone knows the problems within the forestry industry, and now the government will come up with solutions that are "sensible" and work with stakeholders.

He said that Ireland can produce beef and milk in a "more environmentally friendly" way than any other country, and that the same goes for forestry planting.

"We can grow trees better than many, many other countries, but we haven't been doing so in the way that I would like to see us do it," Deputy Healy-Rae said.

Meanwhile, the dáil has been adjourned for the day, with no Taoiseach elected, and will continue tomorrow (Thursday, January 23), with opposition leaders due to meet with their party whips this evening to discuss strategy.

Cabinet positions will be finalised after the Taoiseach's expected election. Of the 15 ministerial portfolios on offer, Fianna Fáil will take 8 positions and Fine Gael will hold 7.