Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

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 in forestry planning and management at local and national level, ranging from public enquiries to environmental assessments and monitoring.”.

This section refers to the specific functions of the Minister. The amendment was tabled following representations by groups involved in conservation and calls for openness and transparency in the work of the Government and all that is done. The amendment does not seek anything untoward. The Department has the information but we want it made public. On every day of the week in the Seanad we have seen Senators call for information on different issues around Government. In fact, all sides have called for transparency and openness on decision-making, etc. We feel that the Minister in this situation should be asked to regularly inform us about what is going on and to provide all possible information on this area.