National development and economic growth has brought an increased awareness of the benefits of the natural and man-made environment.

While that is welcome, this awareness has not been matched by an evolution of policy to allow for the sensible development and use of our resources.

One interesting suggestion put forward at a recent gathering was that the licensing system be replaced by a well thought out regulatory system

Forestry is an obvious example, where the licensing system and its operation – including its vulnerability to frivolous objections – has brought a national industry to its knees with a new dependence on timber imports and enormous financial costs for the broad Irish community.

One interesting suggestion put forward at a recent gathering was that the licensing system be replaced by a well thought out regulatory system.

It seems a sensible suggestion, especially given the importance of forestry in future climate policy.

Anaerobic digestion

But it’s not just in forestry – the blockages in preventing the development of an on-farm based anaerobic digestion sector is in marked contrast to the evolution of the sector in countries such as Britain and Germany.

Anaerobic digestion

It shouldn’t be beyond our capacity to adopt the best features of both systems and implement a sensible Irish version, again with beneficial spin-offs to both financial wellbeing and green energy production.

It has also been a long and constant battle to get to a stage where extra electricity that goes into the grid will be paid for

But even in the modern area of solar panels, we have tied ourselves up in knots. In Britain, 6,000sq m can be put on a suitable building without planning permission – here the equivalent limit is just 50sq m.

It has also been a long and constant battle to get to a stage where extra electricity that goes into the grid will be paid for.

While the principle has at last been conceded, we are not there yet, let alone having a ‘net meter’ regime where the household’s meter would actually go into reverse as new electricity is generated.

Recently, it has been announced that we are to have a special review of the planning process in Ireland. There is enormous scope and a pressing need for fundamental reform.