Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In amendment No. 9, the Deputy is correct to highlight the potential harmful effect of airborne pollution on forests and other habitats. However, responsibility for controlling and monitoring pollution, including airborne pollution, and ensuring Ireland is protected from its harmful effects rests with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, partially via the Environmental Protection Agency and local authorities. It would not be appropriate for me to interfere with or replicate the statutory functions of the Minister and the agencies under his remit. Therefore, I cannot accept amendment No. 9.

Regarding amendment No. 10, it is implicit in the section that, in seeking to ensure forests are protected against harmful pests, diseases and invasive species, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will have regard to the maintenance of their full multiple value as far as is practicable. However, maintaining the full multiple value of every forest in the State cannot be guaranteed. Whether a forest is managed so as to maintain its full multiple value is a matter for the forest's owner or manager. For example, a forest owner who has permitted public access to his or her forest may wish to restrict or rescind access temporarily to all or part of that forest because of, for example, illegal dumping or proposed felling works.

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