Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Very few. This wording does not say in particular the protection of trees or groups of trees that are protected by tree protection orders. It just says "in particular the protection of trees, groups of trees". That refers to all trees and the Minister is justifying this difference in wording as being about tree protection orders which probably not only cover fewer than 1% of trees but fewer than 0.000001% of them. There are very few trees covered by a tree protection order, so that does not explain the rationale here at all. That is a red herring.

Will the Minister of State give his view on "other features of ecological significance"? Does that include hedgerows? Does it include all hedgerows? Does it include just some? Who decides which ones are of ecological significance? What percentage of hedgerows might come under that? I do not expect an exact figure or anything like that, but does the Minister of State think half of hedgerows are features of ecological significance, or most, or just a small number? If he is telling us that wording covers hedgerows but in fact might only cover a few of them, then it does not really cover it. I ask him to expand on what he was saying earlier. Am I right to interpret that his concern around listing hedgerows, which are very important as wildlife habitats, for nature and biodiversity is about that potentially affecting planning permission for one-off rural homes?