Interview: Minister Tom Hayes sees land available as a major issue

Timing is everything in politics. When Tom Hayes was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for forestry 17 months ago, he landed a portfolio that included the Government’s proposal to privatise Coillte’s timber harvesting rights. This controversial decision was abandoned within days of his appointment, but it hasn’t been all sweetness and light since then. He inherited an underperforming afforestation programme, ash dieback disease and a controversial forestry bill enacted last month. In addition, he had an outline of the new Forestry Programme, which would take Irish forestry up to 2020.

Forestry Programme

“I am happy with the new Forestry Programme,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal last week. “It is now almost over the line and we have €110m secured in Budget 2015,” he said.

Responding to criticisms that the annual planting programme of 6,500ha is far too modest, Minister Hayes maintained that securing a €110m allocation for next year’s programme is an important achievement in the present economic climate, but believes that as we emerge from the recession, forestry could expect to benefit further in future budgets.

Land availability remains an issue

Minister Hayes acknowledged that constraints on land availability for forestry need to be addressed.

“There is a huge amount of land that’s not suitable for agriculture but could easily be put under forestry.”

Referring to the virtual ban on planting unenclosed land, he pointed to the COFORD working group report on land availability. This identified 180,000ha of productive forest land suitable for forestry. “I want that land planted,” he said.

He acknowledged that forestry development has to take landscape and environmental issues into account, including protection of endangered species such as the hen harrier. However he said: “The current blanket ban on planting is ridiculous. Obviously we must protect the hen harrier but not in a lazy overall blanket ban on forestry.”

Forestry and climate

Minister Hayes sees forestry as a major land use option working closely with agriculture to benefit both. Ireland is unique in Europe as we have the potential to increase forest cover to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

He quotes the recent agreement at the EU climate change summit and the follow-up statement by the Taoiseach, who said that EU leaders noted the role afforestation can play in carbon sequestration. Minister Hayes believed the agreement Enda Kenny secured at the EU climate change summit is positive for forestry.

“The Department will be implementing a whole new role for forestry,” he said.

“We will be planting a lot more as a way of dealing with GHG emissions.”

Disease

Monitoring and control of ash dieback has been a major issue for Minister Hayes. Within weeks of his appointment, he launched the all-Ireland chalara control strategy with NI minister Michelle O’Neill and followed this up with other initiatives including a joint north-south seminar on the disease.

He is mindful of the seriousness of the disease, which has been outlined in the following update issued by his Department: “To date, there have been a total of 136 confirmed findings of the disease (82 non-forestry and 54 forestry findings) located throughout the country. Arrangements continue to be put in place to remove ash trees from all sites where the disease has been confirmed. The Reconstitution Scheme remains open to support forest owners affected by the disease.”

He acknowledged the potential devastating impact of ash dieback and urged continuous vigilance. While he maintained that so far the disease is not as bad as feared, keeping it in check will be extremely difficult. He said the best long-term approach would be to support research “to develop a variety of ash that is immune to the disease”.

Producer groups

Producers will have a major role to play in maximising timber mobility but need to be involved in a more cohesive way.

“These groups can protect the interests of producers,” he said. “I’d like to see bigger and better supported groups – they need to be countywide in size at least.”

He supports initiatives that provide support for producer groups such as the IFA forest assessor scheme. When he announced this scheme recently, he said: “It will provide an accurate assessment of the timber yield, log type and value of a plantation for forest owners.”

Replanting obligation

While planting land is legally irreversible, he believes it is the correct decision in a country with such low forest cover and which has long-term sustainable carbon sequestration targets.

He acknowledged that some flexibility may be achievable in the future, but stated: “I believe the requirement to replant should stand, considering the commitment of taxpayers’ money to the forestry programme and the potential for sustainable job creation.”

North-south

Given the success of the all-Ireland island initiative on ash dieback, does Minister Hayes see other areas of co-operation between both departments to promote forestry, in particular private and farmer planting?

“I will continue to meet with Minister O’Neill, especially in relation to protecting forests against diseases such as ash dieback.”

While he is aware that private planting in Northern Ireland lags behind the Republic, he is realistic about an all-Ireland approach to forestry development including private afforestation.

“I cannot dictate what they will do in the North but I would be amenable to sharing our experiences and to demonstrate how successful our forestry programme is,” he said.

COFORD

He is positive about the role of COFORD – the National Council for Forest Research and Development – in advising his department on forestry issues, including the role of forests in climate change mitigation. But are they being listened to, given their annual recommended planting target is 15,000ha more than double what is likely to be achieved up to 2020?

“I take advice from COFORD and I’m listening to them,” he said.

He pointed to the COFORD working group on land availability where action is being taken and said that, as the economy improves, there will be opportunities to increase the afforestation programme.

Forestry Agency

When asked about a call for the establishment of an independent forestry agency to reflect the need to promote the commercial development of the sector, he didn’t rule it out “some time in the future” but said: “While I can understand the thrust of what the promoters of the agency are saying, they need to put more meat on the table to convince me.”

Forestry taxation

Minister Hayes stated that changes are needed in forestry taxation.

“I have spoken about taxation with Minister Noonan and we have brought in some changes in agriculture, particularly in the dairy sector. I would be confident forestry taxation will be addressed in the next budget. The Department of Finance sees the reason for income averaging which works in other sectors and which should work in the forestry sector.”

Overall view

When asked about his overall impression of the industry, Minister Hayes said: “I am impressed by the sector and the amazing co-operation that exists to build and grow the industry.”

He cited the timber processing sector for special mention and how they coped during the recession.

“They held their nerve in difficult times. They found new export markets and showed that there is a positive future for forestry in Ireland.”