John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

My Department has completed a comprehensive review of the Forestry Act 1946 and the draft heads of a new forestry Bill have been prepared which will update and consolidate the 1946 Act. The draft scheme of the new forestry Bill will be submitted to the Government shortly for approval to be sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.

The proposed legislation will address many of the issues raised during the extensive consultation process undertaken by the Department. The new forestry Bill will introduce a regulatory framework to support the development of a modern, multi-functional, sustainable and high quality forestry sector which enshrines the principles of sustainable forest management and protection of the environment. The proposed Bill will, among other provisions, introduce a simpler and more streamlined felling licence system, allow for change of land use from forestry to other sustainable uses and provide a statutory basis for forestry guidelines and forest management plans.

My Department has engaged in an extensive consultation process as part of its review of existing forestry legislation. The consultation process commenced in May 1998 with the establishment of a legislative review group with responsibility for, inter alia, evaluating the operation of the Forestry Acts, identifying and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of existing forestry legislation and making recommendations regarding the legislative framework. During the course of its work, the group engaged in widespread consultation and sought the views of the general public, along with various public and private sector organisations.

In December 2005 a consultative group was established by my Department during the final stages of the review of the Forestry Acts. This group comprised representatives from the Irish Forest Industry Chain, the Tree Council of Ireland, the Irish Farmers Association, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Council for Forest Research and Development and the City and County Managers Association. Specifically, the consultative group was asked to consider what operational issues needed to be included in any new Act and assess and evaluate submissions and make decisions on their content vis-À-vis inclusion in primary legislation.

Additional information not given on floor of the House.

The establishment of the consultative group coincided with advertisements in the national newspapers seeking final submissions from interested parties.

During the overall consultation period between 1998 and 2006, 26 separate written submissions were received. A dedicated website, upon which regular updates were posted detailing the deliberations of the consultative group, was also established to keep those interested in the process up to date with developments.

In May 2006 a special public seminar was held to allow all those organisations, groups and individuals who had participated in the consultation process between 1998 and 2005 a chance to present and clarify their submissions in person directly to the consultative group. The group examined all the submissions received during the consultation phases and considered all the comments raised at the public seminar. The proposed general scheme of the Bill reflects the results of the deliberations of the consultative group and represents a broad consensus on the issues involved.

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