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

I appreciate the Deputy’s intention in this amendment which seeks to ensure that the social, economic and environmental functions of forests are maintained at all times. The proposed amendment, however, would place an unrealistic and unobtainable obligation on the Minister because it is simply not possible to ensure that these often competing functions are maintained at all times. For example, it is sometimes necessary to restrict the economic functions of a forest in order to facilitate its environmental functions. This may be the case in limited circumstances where the timing of felling may be temporarily delayed due to the presence of protected species. The existing text in this section obliges the Minister to have regard to the social, economic and environmental functions of forestry in the performance of his or her functions. This enables the Minister to strike an appropriate balance between these functions by means of policy and by way of other measures provided for in this Bill, consequently I cannot accept this amendment.

Amendment No. 34 seeks to require the Minister to lead by reference to a national policy and national standards. That would be too restrictive. The existing reference to good forest practice is preferable because it is sufficiently broad to allow the Minister to take account of national and international policy and standards for good forest practice.

See this speech in context