Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed)

2:50 pm

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank everybody for their submissions. I have a few questions. What would the IFA witnesses define as sustainable forest management? The felling licences generate a large administrative cost for all parties involved. Would the IFA witnesses or the timber growers have a breakdown of how much felling licences currently cost? What is involved that would be different under this legislation in terms of the administrative burden involved in applying for felling licences? I agree totally in terms of the timelines for the processing of licences within the Department. The Department officials are working to amend the proposed legislation in respect of that. They are also looking at amending the 28 day period for the forest inventory. There is a difference in the legislation as there is one part where an illegal act may be carried out, and I think the officials are looking for a quicker response in the turnaround for information. That might be firmed up with amendments from the Department.

I think the Rio declaration on sustainable forestry is not legally binding on the State at this stage. Has Ireland signed up to the convention on biological diversity?

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