Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed)

2:10 pm

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the delegates and thank them for coming before the committee to discuss the Forestry Bill 2013. They are from the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. Michael Fleming, IFA farm forestry chairman and Mr. Enda Monaghan, IFA farm forestry committee; the Irish Timber Growers Association, Mr. Brendan Lacey, chairman, and Mr. Donal Whelan, technical director; the environmental pillar, Ms Anja Murray, member, and Mr. Andrew St. Ledger, convenor, Treecover Working Group.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

We will hear all three presentations first, beginning with Mr. Fleming.