Big line-up of major land use conference

LEADING names in policy and business in Ireland and mainland Europe, as well as the country’s most outspoken commentators, will address a major conference on land use, run by the RDS on October 9 and 10.

“From Muck to Millions — How Should We Use Our Land?” is the title of the conference which will be officially opened by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Brendan Smith.

It will examine policies, trends and prospects for land use in Ireland and will discuss the successes and failures, as well as the challenges facing owners and users of land.

Speakers will include Environmental Protection Agency director, Dr Mary Kelly; Professor Jim

Walsh of NUI Maynooth, and representatives from the European Commission and IBEC.

Two of the country’s leading economists, Dermot O’Brien of NCB and Danny McCoy of IBEC, will provide analysis on the impact of the construction boom in transforming land values during the past decade and will offer forecasts for the next decade.

Environmentalist and broadcaster, Duncan Stewart, and Irish Times journalist, Frank McDonald, will give their views on the ‘ups and downs’ in land use and planning, while leading tillage farmer, Jim McCarthy, will address how farmers can make smarter use of land.

Switching land use towards renewable energy, forestry and recreation will be addressed by Prof Jimmy Burke of Teagasc and Martin Lowery, former chief executive of Coillte.