Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 23:

In page 18, to delete lines 17 to 19.

Section 19, as per the explanatory memorandum, enables the Minister to issue an order prohibiting the felling or removing of trees, including exempted trees, and makes it an offence not to comply with the order. There is a list from sections 19(1)(a)to 19(1)(o) of exempted trees.Section 19(1)(a)indicates that a tree in an urban area is exempted, and I am worried by this. All the trees we can see from the Chamber could be exempted.Section 19(1)(b)indicates that a tree within 30 m of a building is exempt, and this should be reduced to within 10 m of a building. Trees are part of our landscape and it is draconian to allow people to remove all trees within 30 m of a building. Amendment No. 28 is a Sinn Féin amendment and I could not possibly presume what my colleagues from those benches would say. My amendments delete the lines giving exemption to a tree in an urban area and within 30 m of a building. The resumption of the building industry is positive but in the past, builders have taken a very cavalier attitude towards trees in the suburbs of Dublin. I am seeking to protect from such behaviour.