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

I move amendment No. 79:

In page 17, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:

“Time period for decisions on applications for felling licences
18.(1) It shall be the objective of the Minister to ensure that every application under section 17for a licence (a “felling licence application”) is determined within a period of 4 months beginning on the date of receipt by the Minister of the application.
(2) Where it appears to the Minister that it would not be possible or appropriate, because of the particular circumstances of a felling licence application or because of the number of such applications which have been submitted to the Minister, to determine a felling licence application within the period referred to in subsection (1), the Minister shall, by notice in writing served on the applicant for the licence, inform the applicant of the reasons why it would not be possible or appropriate to determine the application within that period and shall specify the date before which the Minister intends that the application shall be determined.
(3) Where a notice has been served under subsection (2), the Minister shall take all such steps as are open to him or her to ensure that the application is determined before the date specified in the notice.”.