Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to take up more time but I have a few questions I want to ask Mr. O'Connor about the Garda station in Portlaoise and the UN veterans' part of that. I thank the OPW for getting back to me on the issue. I will ask my questions after the meeting.

On parklands and so forth, we are lucky in County Laois to have Heywood Gardens and Emo Court. The staff and management deserve top marks for looking after those. They are great facilities. I have an interest in the biodiversity in these sites. Deputy Hourigan has left has an interest in this too. Money is being spent clearing out the forest floors and much of the natural vegetation in these sites, which butchers habitats and causes a loss of biodiversity and wildlife. These are hugely important amenities and carbon sinks. Who is giving the directions to bulldoze the forest floors in some of those sites? Is the person responsible present? I am saying this as somebody who uses these sites. This is not sought by members of the public who enjoy the wildlife. This was not getting in the way of anyone walking around. There was no safety issues because these are areas on which people do not walk. For some reason, people see that whole areas have been cleared out. Can any of the witnesses or those present in the Public Gallery tell me who is giving the direction to do this or making the decision?