The Irish government's commitment to securing both long-term energy security and a low carbon future has been reaffirmed by Minister of State Tony Killeen.

Addressing the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) in Dublin, the Clare TD spoke of the critical role played by forests in the global challenge presented by climate change.

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The meeting was organised to finalise the Pan-European Afforestation and Reforestation Guidelines in the Context of Climate Change and was attended by delegates from all over Europe.

Minister Killeen urged all delegates to ensure that agreement was finally reached on these most relevant and timely guidelines.

The MCPFE is a pan-European regional process comprising 46 Member States, the European Commission, and a broad range of policy stakeholders representing industry, environmental, social and cultural dimensions of forests.

Its headquarters are currently in Oslo, Norway.

(PR/JM)