Mr. Brendan Lacey:

To respond to Deputy Martin Heydon's question on management plans, forest owners should be free to make decisions. Drawing up a management plan would be a significant imposition on owners of smaller areas of forest as they would have to bring in outside expertise. If one is running a forestry business or any type of farm business, it clearly makes sense to plan. However, it is not the role of the forest service to tell owners how they should manage their forests. If they manage their forests badly, they will be exposed to losses, which is their responsibility, as owners.

Senator Michael Comiskey pointed out that there were jobs and log inputs. This clearly demonstrates that there is significant demand for timber in this country and that we have the resources and potential to meet it. This is the reason we are addressing the joint committee. We want to be as positive as possible on the framing of a new Bill to ensure it assists the development of the industry and forestry sector in general.

Deputy Thomas Pringle asked about the burdens associated with felling licences. I ask Mr. Whelan to respond.