Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wonder if the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach would indulge me. At the outset, the Minister paid tribute to Mr. Paul Dillon, who is retiring after a long career. Mr. Dillon taught me a very valuable lesson. Up to that point, I had believed legislation was made by these Houses, but I learnt in the course of the passage of the Forestry Act 2014 that it is, in fact, made in Departments and rubber-stamped by this House. He was very much the driving force behind the Forestry Act 2014, which was revolutionary legislation. It introduced a new definition of forestry, which is 0.1 of a hectare where 20% is under tree crown cover. It also removed the theretofore protection for individual trees in hedgerows. There followed the destruction of many hedgerows in Clare by Clare County Council, but that is not something that could be attributed to Mr. Dillon in any way. How could he have predicted the particular antipathy an area engineer might have for trees in a hedgerow? Notwithstanding the talk about trees by the Green Party - I do not wish to make this an attack on the Green Party - and environmentalists, generally, there has not really been anything legislative done since then. The Forestry Act 2014 is very much his creation rather than that of this House, as is the case with most legislation.

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