Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before I turn to forestry, I note that there is nothing in the Bill regarding harness racing. We had a presentation in committee yesterday from harness racers. I understand that they have been talking to the Minister. I would like to see their interests forming part of the Bill and I think everyone on the committee agrees. Many would argue that it has been left outside the loop because, as one person put it yesterday, it is a working man's and working woman's sport. That sector of the industry has no financial support whatsoever from the Department. It has been ignored continuously. The HRI has been preventing those involved from having access to privately owned race tracks. I would like the Minister to clarify in his reply whether he intends to take amendments to include harness racing in the Bill. It would be very helpful.

The Minister said in relation to the Forestry Act issue that on enactment of this position, only one consent will be required and that this will be administered by his Department. Currently consent is required from the Department in relation to the construction of a forestry road while an entirely separate consent is required from the local planning authority for an entrance from a forestry road onto a public road. I read this to mean the Department will be able to give the consent. As such, the Minister will give consent for a private road to go onto a public road.

How does this fit into the planning laws? As every elected representative knows, be they local councillors or Deputies, planning rules and regulations must be adhered to and any access to a public road requires planning permission. Is the Minister saying that his Department will have the power to overrule these laws and allow a private forestry road access to a public one?

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