Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this important matter. I have consistently highlighted it through the tabling of a Topical Issue matter last year and many parliamentary questions. I am a Deputy from Laois-Offaly, where forestry is a large sector that creates considerable employment and supports our rural and, indeed, regional economies. I have been in contact with many frustrated employers, forestry workers and farmers who want this issue sorted. It has gone on for too long, and we must ensure that we have a robust system in place.

Clearly, this is a major sector and anything that happens within it that destabilises the internal licensing process will have serious and detrimental side effects. I was dismayed to hear that the "relevant person" provision in the Bill might have been removed. That is shocking. This provision would prevent continual objections from people who live 300 miles away and do not know anything about rural Ireland or the rural economy. If it is the case that it has been removed, then we will need to insert a similar safeguard to ensure that the chaos being caused in the forestry sector by objections does not recur. Those objections have become ludicrous. There are too many. At the current rate at which appeals are being processed, it will take 16 months to clear the backlog. In one day in early August, objectors stalled the production of 100,000 cu. m of timber, enough to build 5,000 homes. This issue will affect the construction sector significantly if it is not sorted out and robust safeguards are not put in place.

It is worth noting that the majority of appeals are lodged by a small handful of individuals who target forestry policy generally rather than any specific project. I am calling for something to be done in this regard. We accept that people have the right to appeal, but we do not accept that they have the right to disrupt and obstruct people in their work. It stands that this could damage the rural economy. Currently, 12,000 jobs are at serious risk.

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