The forestry industry has "slipped into a massive crisis, where everything is held up".
That's according to Simon White, from the Forest Owners Co-Operative Society, and he says "stark inaction" has caused significant delays in the issuing of timber felling licenses.
Mr White says Irish sawmills are now importing timber to make up for the "massive shortfall" and warns that the timber industry "is going down the tubes fast".
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He's called for a "radical overhaul" of the licensing system to alleviate the backlog.
Mr White has also criticised governmental measures that have been taken to battle Ash Dieback disease.
He told Shannonside Northern Sound that compensation must be offered to plantation owners who have been affected by the disease:
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