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

I welcome Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett's positive attitude to forestry. However, that is a debate for the future and I would welcome that discussion. The benefits of forestry are not known. Many people do not appreciate forestry until such time as they come to understand the business of forestry, trees and the environment. I would welcome a debate or legislation in this area in the future. However, what we are doing in this Bill is trying to encourage people with marginal land to become involved in forestry because of its economic benefits, particularly in rural areas. There is huge potential for the creation of jobs.

A few weeks ago I visited a wood-related industry on the Cork-Kerry border. It employs 1,000 people, 200 of whom were only taken on during the past few months. There were no press releases or announcements, but the company is now exporting to the UK market. There are great benefits to be gained in forestry and there is a need for a huge change of mindset. I would welcome and encourage this and acknowledge that this is the thrust of many of Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett's amendments. I would welcome the opportunity to debate the issue int the future.

On amendment No. 13, continuous cover forest involves the use of harvesting systems and natural regeneration to promote uneven aged forest stands and continuous tree cover more typical of natural forests. The use of continuous cover forests, although not widespread, is practised to a small extent in a number of areas in Ireland. While there is little experience of continuous forest cover in Ireland, in recent years there has been an increasing interest among many forest owners and forest professionals in these forest management systems. As forest estate matures and forest diversity increases a trend towards more continuous cover forest management systems in Ireland is likely. While I accept that continuous cover systems should be encouraged, I must also recognise that other forest management systems such as clear felling and replanting also play an important part in the sustainable management of forests.

It would not be appropriate to promote in primary legislation one forest management system over another. The function of the Minister should be to promote all forest management systems as long as they are compatible with good forest practice. This is provided for in section 5(c) which empowers the Minister to promote good forest practise within the forests and forest-related sectors. The provision already provides the Minister with sufficient powers to promote the range of management options available to forest owners, ranging from continuous cover forest systems to clear felling and replanting systems. Consequently, I cannot accept the amendment.

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