Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Of course, but he must go to the trouble of obtaining a licence to do so. Section 18 deals with exempted trees. Subsection (1)(m) applies to trees outside a forest, whereas I believe it should apply to trees inside a forest . The provision in section 18(1)(m)(iii) should be changed to specify 25 cu. m. rather than 15 cu. m. That would enable people who are active farmers to use their crop, as opposed to passive farmers being allowed to go around the hedgerows and lop down every old tree for the wood burner or sell the wood at the local grocery shop. I am raising these issues with a view to tabling an amendment on Report Stage to the effect that paragraph (m) will apply to trees in a forest and that we increase the volume from 15 cu. m. to 25 cu. m. in paragraph (m)(iii). It is logical that one should be able to bring one's crop to market to sell it.