Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Uair ar bith a fheicim foraoiseacht ar an gclár anseo sa Seanad, caithfidh mé a rá go dtéann mo chuimhne siar go dtí an iar-Aire, Shane McEntee, a bhí linn anseo go minic ag caint faoi chúrsaí foraoiseachta. Every time I see forestry come up on our schedule my mind goes back to the last debate we had with the former Minister of State, Shane MacEntee. I think of him because he was the last person to speak in here about ash dieback and he was very concerned about it.

I share the concerns of other Senators. Will the Minister of State give us an update on the national position of ash dieback because we have not heard much about it recently?

Sinn Féin has supported this Bill despite our constructive amendments having been voted down by the Government parties on Committee Stage in the Dáil. What party with the best interests of this nation at heart could not support further and better forestry provision to maximise the economic, environmental and social value of forests? The natural resource of our forests and woodlands must be regulated and used in the interests of the Irish people. There is economic potential for forestry but that too must be regulated so that our indigenous growers and processors will reap the benefits. The idea of selling off harvesting rights to foreign interests must be rejected when investment at home would ensure that the monetary benefit would stay in Ireland, but would also ensure the ecological security of our woodlands. We had several concerns which the Bill goes some way to address, but not far enough. It is not difficult to see the challenges being created for people who are trying to marry environmental concerns with generating an economic benefit. It is a question of the happy medium. No one involved in the industry is trying to damage the environment but something must be in place to help people when making decisions. When they go out of their way to protect the environment it should not be at a loss to their incomes. This is a major problem for those in the private forestry sector.

I am also concerned by the powers that the Bill gives to the as yet unspecified people who will police it. These people will enter people's property and land without warrants. They can walk in off the road and make a determination that will have considerable financial implications for people in the industry.

One of the amendments we will bring forward on Committee Stage will seek to oblige the present or any future Minister to provide information to ensure the public and other authorities are regularly informed of the role and condition of forests as well as of all forestry activities. Our support for this Bill is based on two factors, namely, the development of the industry and the wish to protect our natural resources. The land of Ireland for the people of Ireland is a principle we take seriously. This is not just for purely economic benefit but for the enrichment of all our lives and the protection of our national ecological heritage.

I sit on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions which has heard quite a few petitions on the suburban issue of trees overhanging people's gardens. I am from a rural area but this appears to be a major issue in some suburban areas. I am not sure if this Bill addresses that problem, or if it falls under the remit of the Minister of State. It appears to be a substantial issue where there is a hiatus in the legislation. I would also welcome any further support that could be given to forestry-based tourism. There is an excellent mountain bike trail in Derroura in Connemara, which would benefit from further investment through Coillte. More work on that kind of tourism and linking it to the Wild Atlantic Way would be quite welcome. There are some fantastic woods which are under threat, for example in Galway, the Merlin Park Woods, which have not been developed as a full public amenity yet. Certain people have plans to drive a bus route through those woods. I call on the Minister of State and his Department to examine that issue and do what they can to support the people who want to preserve it as a community forest that can be used for generations to come. Go ginearálta, táimid ag tacú go láidir leis an mBille seo. Beimid ag teacht chun cinn le leasuithe, ach fáiltímid roimh an reachtaíocht. Tá súil againn go mbeidh an tAire Stáit in ann na leasuithe sin a thabhairt ar bord.