A Roscommon/Galway TD is calling on the forestry minister to stand down from her role as the chair of a major industry policy group.
Green Party Senator Pippa Hacket is a Minister of State with responsibility for the forestry sector and chairs the group comprising of representatives from the forestry industry, environmental NGOs, community, farmers, and state agencies, which is designed to create new strategies for the industry in Ireland.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has called on the Junior Minister to stand down from her position as chair over what he claims is inaction from the department in tackling serious issues with the delays in the granting of felling licenses.
The Roscommon-Galway TD says despite measures including hiring more ecologists to alleviate problems with the backlog in issuing licenses, the industry is in crisis, with the situation worsening rapidly.
Deputy Fitzmaurice says the Taoiseach will need to step in to resolve the problem if the Department of Agriculture can't:
