Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Council for Forest Research and Development, COFORD, all-Ireland roundwood production forecast 2011-2028 illustrates the increasing production potential from Irish forests, which will almost double to 7 million cu. m from the current 3.79 million cu. m. The harvest from private forests is forecast to increase tenfold within this timeframe. It is therefore right and proper that the Minister and the State should ensure that the conditions are right to promote and properly regulate the forestry industry.

Some within the private sector have been less than welcoming to the Bill. There are several issues on which I would welcome the Minister of State's views. Irish forests are among the healthiest in Europe. We have comparatively little in the way of forest pests and diseases but we import vast quantities of firewood in the form of logs, along with pellets, pressed sawdust and other sawmill by-products from other European countries and further afield, which can be subject to infestation and disease not seen here. Disease and infestation would have huge implications for the forestry industry here. This could be addressed by increasing our own production and becoming more self-reliant. In that regard there are no specific objectives in terms of reducing our imports, and we all know that targets concentrate the mind. There are reports available, such as the one I have mentioned, indicating that we can increase production drastically. The Minister of State might consider my constructive suggestions in that regard.

I compliment the Minister of State for amending the period for which a felling licence can be issued, to ten years with the potential for a further five years. The point has already been made that the current felling licence regime is prone to delay. I welcome the removal of the dual licence process and the involvement of the gardaí in the process.

I compliment the Minister of State and the departmental officials for committing to legislation the granting of a licence within four months. In section 18 (2), however, one of the reasons stipulated for delaying the issuing of a felling licence could be due to the number of applications submitted to the Minister.

Serious consideration should be given to mending that section as it seems to raise a concern about potential licensing inefficiency. Can the Minister of State assure the House that he will commit sufficient resources to the forestry service to ensure that present delays are eliminated and that future ones will not occur? There are industry suggestions that the service does not have sufficient resources and I would welcome the Minister of State's views on that suggestion. Another problem is the onus on private foresters to destroy vegetation or vermin. While I see the logic of that, for example, the associated fire risks, vermin eradication is far more complicated and is not easy or cheap. The forester might have to dedicate considerable time and moneys to this matter.

What exactly is envisaged in respect of section 15(1) where the Minister directs that certain specific steps be taken to prevent such damage within such time as the Minister may specify? I am concerned that these steps would be either prohibitively expensive or time consuming. Privately-owned forests account for almost half of our forest cover and are mainly owned by farmers who are already subject to rigorous inspection regimes of their day-to-day operations. The industry is concerned that this legislation would needlessly add to that burden. I hope the Minister of State will be able to allay those fears.

The provision of an appeals mechanism is welcome. No administrative action should be above review and the appeals structure will create confidence in the new system. I welcome the Bill and suggest that the Minister of State and the officials reconsider the issues I have raised with a view to making the warranted licensing regime and ancillary matters less onerous.