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

This is particularly important in the context of my Committee Stage amendment to extend the licensing period to a period of five to ten years. This amendment was tabled in response to concerns by industry stakeholders put on the basis that the power to revoke or suspend a licence remains.

An example where a licence would need to be suspended, or in limited circumstances revoked, might occur where harvesting and extraction on a steep slope might contribute to an unforeseen landslide causing a large amount of silt to enter the watercourse. In this scenario the silt entering the water could have a serious impact on salmon spawning grounds or public water supplies. If the Minister did not have the power to suspend or revoke a licence, an unco-operative forest owner could continue to harvest and continue to cause environmental damage.

See this speech in context