Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Governments are constrained by the law and by the courts. This Government has taken urgent action and we have passed an Act in this regard. We know there have been serial objections to every felling licence application. I think that is wrong and inappropriate, and also, in its own way, brings the planning processes into disrepute. The forestry industry is an important one which creates thousands of jobs and is important for housing and construction. The new Act, therefore, will improve the functioning of the forestry appeals committee. I will talk to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, and see how we can ensure we accelerate the alleviation of the backlog.

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