Results 2,681-2,700 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:“(3) The Minister has a duty to provide information to ensure the public and other authorities are regularly informed on the role and condition of forests as well as on all forestry activities. (4) The Minister has a duty to ensure that all Irish citizens and environmental NGOs are entitled to participate...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I appreciate and take on board what the Minister has said. We have an opportunity here to copperfasten the principle of what was said about the legislation. I know from the groups that have contacted us that they feel the provision needs to be bolstered in the legislation. The other legislation can be changed or amended at another time. Specifically in regard to forestry management and...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It is.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 6: In page 9, to delete lines 18 and 19 and substitute the following:“(e) purchase land that is for sale, land swop, or lease for afforestation or any other forestry related activity,”.This relates to the phrase "or otherwise acquire" used in the Bill. We have concerns as to what is meant by "otherwise acquire", because that is the only difference between...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We have had a great deal of discussion over the last number of weeks on State board appointees. People with oversight roles on committees and boards have a duty to stand up for the rights of whatever groups they represent. If the citizens are to have confidence in the arms and structures of the State, it is important to provide for openness and transparency. Section 9 is very much a...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister for his reply. I take on board the point made by Senator Ó Domhnaill and appreciate the point regarding the need for discretion around commercially sensitive information. With regard to the particular Oireachtas committee on which I sit, an individual who was acting on behalf of the State is playing hardball about coming before the committee to discuss a case put...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: It never is.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I was sent a note to say that these amendments had been ruled out of order.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 11: In page 11, line 34, to delete "may" and substitute "should".This is quite a simple amendment. The section provides that the Minister may by notice in writing require an owner of a forest to submit a forest management plan. It just changes the word from "may" to "should" because we feel that "may" leaves things quite open-ended for a Minister. I know that when the...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, line 5, after "may," to insert "having stated his reasons for doing so,".

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 15: In page 13, between lines 30 to 31, to insert the following:"(2) The collection of information for statistical purposes be undertaken by the Forestry Service in a voluntary capacity as per other agricultural commodities.”.There has been extensive discussion about the potential of the industry. We need to consider how onerous the gathering of information may be...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 17: In page 16, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“(3) A licence approval will issue in default of decision by the Minister 12 weeks from receipt of the application. This approval, however, will be waived if there is requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement or Appropriate Assessment.”.This amendment relates to the applications for...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 19: In page 16, line 18, after “conditions” to insert “that are in accordance with good forest practices”.This amendment aims to strengthen the legislation. Section 17(4) states “the Minister may at any time attach or vary conditions to any licence granted”. We are proposing that “in accordance with good forest...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Amendment No. 28 arises from some of the representations received by bodies such as the Environmental Pillar. This regards the felling of hedgerows for the purposes of trimming, as long as the tree does not exceed 20 cm in diameter when measured 1.3 m from the ground. We suggest the addition of the clause "or is not a hedgerow of historical, ecological and/or landscape" value. The reason...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 28: In page 19, line 21, after “ground” to insert “or is not a hedgerow of historical, ecological and/or landscape”.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 31: In page 23, line 8, after “officers” to insert “competent in the area of forestry regulation”.This is a small amendment in the area of enforcement relating to officers authorised to enforce the law. Section 23(1) states: "The Minister may appoint such and so many persons as he or she considers appropriate to be authorised officers for the...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: With all due respect to the Minster of State I do not share his confidence. The stipulation should be copper-fastened in the legislation. Any of us in our various areas and constituencies can get telephone calls every day of the week from people engaging with Departments and at times they question the competency of some of the people who are doing what they are doing.

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 34:In page 28, line 11, to delete “A person” and substitute “A person under whose direction the activities are being conducted”.I am open to persuasion on this one. I have been reading it myself. We want to make sure that the perpetrator of a wrong is the person who is prosecuted. I am talking about offences and penalties. What we have at...

Seanad: Forestry Bill 2013: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2014)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I am not going to press the amendment, but I intend to look at the particular section and I reserve the right to table an amendment on Report Stage.