Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, line 19, to delete "0.1 hectare" and substitute "0.5 hectares and five metres in height".

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit.
In general, we welcome the Bill and feel it is far overdue. However, I wish to raise a number of technical matters that I would like to tease out with the Minister of State. The first arises on page 6, line 19, concerning the area of land which would be designated as a forest. The minimum area indicated is 0.1 hectares. Some people would have back gardens of that size, so I feel it is quite restrictive for anyone living in rural Ireland. It is a very limited definition of what a forest would be. I suggest therefore that the figure should be increased to 0.5 hectares and five metres in height. That would exclude any kind of garden of a reasonable size. I have therefore moved this amendment to try to improve the piece of legislation before us.