Dáil debates
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Forestry Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage
Bill entitled an Act to make further and better provision in relation to forestry; to provide for the development and promotion of forestry in a manner that maximises the economic, environmental and social value of forests within the principles of sustainable forest management; to confer power on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make regulations for the effective management of the forestry sector; to make further provision for the giving effect to Acts of the institutions of the European Union by regulation made by that Minister in respect of forestry and forestry-related activities; to repeal the Forestry Act 1946; to amend the Wildlife Act 1976; to amend the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001; to amend the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 and to provide for related matters.
Joe Gowran
Posted on 10 Oct 2013 12:38 pm (Report this comment)
With regard to the Forestry Bill 2013: There is no mechanism such as an Annual Report to make the Minister accountable to the Public or the Dáil as to how the sector is governed by him/her /the Dept.
2. The Bill refers to all aspects of Tree Cover in Ireland and therefore should be titled ' Tree Cover Bill 2013'
3. The onus on the Minister to maintain a constant and unrelenting state of co-operation with the Northern Ireland Ministerial counterpart, in relation to pests and diseases, invasive species, strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change, timber supply in relation to sustainable yield, and general inventory, is not recognised in this Bill.
4. Section 18 (1) (m) (iii):
It is not clear how the 15m3 of annual allowable cut from non-forest trees is to be monitored/ policed for abuses.
This exemption could inadvertently cause devastation to hedgerow networks, wildlife corridors, parkland trees, historic trees and species diversity on townland boundaries, unless a Hedgerow Appraisal System (ref: Woodlands of Ireland.ie / HLAI.ie) or similar can be integrated into the Forest Inventory and Planning System (FIPS).
Ash Dieback: Hedgerows need to be integrated into FIPS in relation to pest and disease control and conservation of sources of indigenous genetic stock. For example, unless isolated Ash trees in hedgerows or the open landscape are afforded protection from felling under the section 18(1) (m) (iii) exemption, we may end up with the virtual extinction of this native hardwood.
Joe Gowran, Environmental Pillar Rep for Hedgelaying Association of Ireland