|
Ms Mary Wallace T.D., Minister of State at the Department
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with responsibility for
Forestry, addressed the Agricultural Consultants Association
at its AGM in the Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Speaking at the AGM, Minister of State Wallace commended
the ACA on their role in the delivery of schemes and services
to Irish farmers and she praised the association for its commitment
to the FEPS and REPS schemes. These schemes offer large environmental
benefits to the country and she added that "it is the
likes of your members that have the task of translating the
Schemes into the everyday reality of each individual farm".
The Minister of State spoke briefly about the recent
developments in the forestry sector - including the changes
to the FEPS scheme - and added that - "there
has never been a better time for landowners to consider forestry,
given the current emphasis on the environmental benefits of
forestry and the growing market for renewable energy".
Ireland's afforestation aid package is worth over €900
million for the period 2007-2013 and Minister Wallace hoped
that this would help to increase the area under forestry and
she urged ACA members to present the benefits of forestry
to their clients.
The Minister outlined Ireland's commitments to energy and
climate change. By 2020, Ireland has to -
- obtain 16% of its energy from renewable sources
- ensure that biofuels make up 10% of transport fuel - and
- reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.
Minister Wallace highlighted the measures such as the National
Energy Crop Premium, the Bioenergy Scheme and the
Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Grant Scheme that the
Department has put in place to help reach these targets.
The Minister briefly mentioned the Farm Waste Management
Scheme and highlighted the importance of increased safety
measures on farms during the construction period. She urged
the ACA to make their clients - participating in this scheme
- aware of the end of year deadline for construction works
to be completed.
Concluding, Minister Wallace added - "Agriculture
is going through a period of rapid change in Ireland. Farmers
have a very important role to play in delivering Ireland's
commitments to climate change, biodiversity and water quality.
I have no doubt that all of us - the ACA included - will meet
these changes and steer the agricultural sector into a new
area of success and development."
|
