Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív:

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 9, to delete lines 14 and 15.

The preparation of plans has become a modern fetish. It seems we must have a plan for everything. While persons planting forest need to have a plan, the purpose of any such plan should be to help them act wisely. I often wonder what happens to all these plans when they are submitted to Departments. Are they taken out every week, dusted down and read? No. Do they serve any purpose other than to catch someone much later when both sides have forgotten the details and the plan can be pulled out of a drawer? Does the type of route planning laid down in this legislation serve any purpose other than to enrich the professionals who draw up the plans? I doubt it. The type of plan an individual would draw up would differ greatly from the type of plan the Department will require, as the latter includes details to be produced by the experts on behalf of the person doing the planting. The Department or person doing the planting will never look at the plan again unless a dispute arises. For this reason, the requirement to draw up a plan should be removed from the Bill.