Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. This an important debate and we had a good discussion on Second Stage also. The amendments I have tabled are entirely in the spirit of the last debate. We can see the role of trees in its full context, including the environment and climate change. We may all be tree-huggers by the time we emerge from this debate. I hope so.

An area of 0.1 hectares is 100 square metres. Many trees are of great value to the landscape for noise abatement and climate change, which would not be covered by the Bill. My amendment No. 2 therefore seeks to extend the scope. One hundred square metres is a very high threshold, but we need to protect trees that grow in smaller clusters up and down the country as part of a general appreciation of the role that trees have.

I noticed that in the National Development Plan 2007-2013, 19 lines were devoted to forestry in a 300-page document. We are attempting to redress that today by appreciating how important trees and forests are in the Irish context.

My amendment No. 2 seeks to extend the definition of "woodland" to appreciate the valuable role that trees perform in smaller plantations from an economic, environmental and tourism point of view. If we define plantations as only 0.1 of a hectare we might miss some of the most valuable trees in the country.