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

I do not see the need for amendments Nos. 15, 16 and 21. Consequently, I do not propose to accept them. There is already legislation in place that entitles citizens to information on forestry and to participate in forestry planning. I remind the Deputies that my Department, like all other Departments, is a public body that allows access to information on the environmental regulation, which allows members of the public to request environmental information held by public authorities. This places an obligation on public authorities to be proactive in disseminating environmental information to the public.

Under the European Communities (Forest Consent and Assessment) Regulations 2010, my Department is already required to consult stakeholders and the general public when deciding whether to grant consent for afforestation and forest road projects. My Department is also an authority for the purpose of the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations, which require the Department to carry out a strategic environmental assessment, SEA, of any proposed programme for forestry and to consult widely and facilitate public participation during the process. In this regard, I announced on 10 March the formal signing of a contract to carry out, among other things, an SEA of the new forest programme for the period 2014 to 2020. The SEA process includes consultation with all stakeholders, including environmental NGOs. The first round of stakeholder consultation on the proposed measures for the new forest programme for 2014 to 2020 has already been completed, and further consultation on the environmental report and revised forestry programme will commence shortly. My Department already publishes and disseminates a wide range of information on forestry, including statistics and information on the condition of Ireland's forests. Deputies may recall that only last December I announced the publication of the main findings of Ireland's second national forest inventory. This information, along with more detailed information generated by the inventory, is available on the Department's website.

Furthermore, section 5(j) of the Bill already provides the Minister with the general function of collecting and disseminating information and statistics on forests, forestry and forest-based industry.

I agree that we need to involve people. The point Deputy Boyd Barrett made about trust between landowners and environmentalists is good. Trust certainly needs to be built up. I see regularly in my rural constituency the lack of trust that exists. There would be many fewer objections to projects around the country if more information were shared and there were more trust among the various groups. As Deputy Colreavy rightly pointed out, we are moving away from the era of not giving out information. The information is available. When I was a public representative on the other side of the House, I was often critical of the Department and various public bodies not giving out information but now that I work in the Department I see it from a different angle. Public officials are quite intent on giving out information they have to hand.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of Gougane Barra and the lack of trust. Last night, when I went straight to the departmental officials, everything was forthcoming. There was no hiding of information. The Deputy has tabled parliamentary questions on this matter and I read them and the answers.

A great deal of information was provided and there was no hiding. With regard to what happened in Gougane Barra, nobody took that decision lightly. The decision was taken on foot of two tests reports from two independent bodies. I have the two reports with me. They directed the Forest Service, which directed Coillte, to carry out an operation that was needed for the future of the forestry industry and to protect the trees of the country. That is what happened. The information is in the public domain for everybody to see. I have the two reports and they are available to the public. It was not nice to have to cut down the trees but it had to happen for the reasons outlined in the two independent surveys.

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