Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In section 5, the functions of the Minister, both general and specific, are set out in some detail. The general functions include a range of promotional responsibilities relating to forestry, including increased afforestation, good forest practice that maintains the biological diversity of forests, the promotion of knowledge and awareness of forestry through education and training, and the development and marketing of a quality-based processing sector.

The Minister's general functions also include the regulation and monitoring of forest operations to ensure forests are properly managed and protected from harmful pests, diseases and invasive species.

The list is extensive but it was indicated to my Department in a series of meetings with various stakeholders that there was no mention of timber production in the text and the purpose of amendment No. 14, affecting paragraph (k), is to reflect this important aspect of forestry development. The insertion of the word "production" in paragraph (k) is a restatement of the commitment to the production of timber and addresses the amendment proposed by Deputies Ferris and Ó Cuív.