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

Coillte is subject to the same regulations as any other landowner and this is the reality. With regard to who it consulted in Gougane Barra, certainly it would have been great to consult many other people but there was a disease. I explained this to the Deputy on the previous occasion. The explanation I gave him then is the same. Obviously the decision was not taken lightly. One does not make a decision to fell trees in a place of such beauty as Gougane Barra lightly or without having reason to do so which will stand up. When the Forest Service made the decision it consulted widely on what it could do about the disease and what was the best way to deal with a problem it had. No more than a vet would take a decision on animals with disease, somebody must take a decision, and allowing a disease to go wild and delaying is not the way to do it. Professional specialists were asked and they gave the answer, and that is when it was done.

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