Minister Collins hosts EU forest directors in Dublin
Minister Niall Collins welcomed EU Forest Directors to Ireland for a key informal meeting during the country’s EU Presidency. The event featured discussions on timber use and forestry management, alongside a field visit to forests in Dublin and Wicklow.
Minister of State Niall Collins, responsible for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, warmly received EU Forest Directors in Ireland for an informal gathering held from 20 to 22 October. This meeting, organised by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, was part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Delegates from all EU member states, alongside European Commission officials and representatives of various European forestry bodies, convened to examine the role of timber in construction and the multifunctional benefits of forestry. A highlight of the event was a field visit on 22 October to forests in Dublin and Wicklow, showcasing production, recreational use, and native woodland restoration.
Minister Collins emphasised Ireland’s significant progress in forestry, noting the rise in forest cover from 1.4% at the foundation of the State to 11.6% today—the highest in over 350 years. He highlighted the government’s €1.3 billion Forestry Programme (2023–2027) as a major investment supporting sustainable forest management and the increased use of timber, which contributes to carbon storage, rural employment, and a greener built environment. The Minister expressed his hope that visitors found the meeting both productive and enjoyable.