Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It has been noted that the Bill is somewhat rushed but I know it has been discussed over a period. I acknowledge the public consultation that took place in August and I commend the Minister of State on it. It generated a level of interest and as others have said there were just about shy of 9,000 submissions. That demonstrates the interest in this area.

The forestry sector is important in Ireland for a number of reasons. As a country, we must increase forestry as we know the benefit of afforestation in creating carbon sinks for our climate strategy. We welcome that. We must plant more trees and a wider variety of them. I previously argued, as others have, for an increase in the native broadleaf trees and suggested that aside from specific plantations, native species should be incorporated into commercial plantations where the land is suitable for it around the boundaries or in specific areas, such as in riparian zones along lakes or waterways.

I acknowledge one of the great trees that we had, the ash tree, and the Minister of State's predecessor, the late former Deputy Shane McEntee, broke that news of it being affected by disease a number of years ago. It is depressing to see the visible impact across our countryside on our ash trees arising from dieback.

The forestry sector is significant for rural communities, contributing approximately €3.2 billion to our economy each year, supporting up to 12,000 jobs, such as those in ECC at Corr na Móna in Galway. It is a very large employer in an area of north Connemara, south Mayo and beyond. The industry should provide a good supply of timber, which is so crucial to housing construction, including products like pallets and fencing, as well as other sectors such as furniture manufacturing. The furniture manufacturing sector does not attract much attention but it has great potential, as exemplified by the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology in Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology at Letterfrack. It is a world class facility dependent on a supply of timber and other raw materials and I am sure at some stage the Minister of State will get the chance to come out and visit Letterfrack.

The forestry sector is also important for tourism, including nature-based and adventure-based tourism, as it provides recreation spaces and materials for parks like the Wildlands, a new adventure destination in Moycullen, County Galway, that opened this summer. I hope we will see that business creating more employment.

It is clear how important forestry is to Ireland and, by extension, how important is this legislation.The backlogs in the forestry licensing system need to be addressed urgently, particularly in view of the fact that the logjam is having serious implications for supplies going forward. The Irish customer base is looking abroad for supplies and is replacing Irish-grown timber, which is regrettable. Many companies are advance buying at this time of year, and perhaps purchasing up to two thirds of their supplies for the 2021 season. Some timber mills are even running out of supplies. The situation is urgent, which is why I welcome the bringing forward of this Bill and its passage in this House and the Lower House.

On the one hand, there is the issue of resources. I am pleased with the provisions in the Bill that will enable the recruitment of extra members of the Forestry Appeals Commission, the appointment of deputy chairpersons and facilitate the committee to sit on a subdivided basis. These proposals should enable a speedier licensing process while still upholding the important right to question an appeals decision.

On the other hand, there is the delay as a result of the additional environmental obligations arising out of the Forestry Act 2014. Most applications in the forestry sector now have to undergo second-stage appropriate assessment, a process that involves specific analysis of a site to ensure compliance with environmental laws. This step is important to assess the impact, if any, of a forestry licence on a designated site. While the Department has increased its staffing to include 14 full-time ecologists, it is clear further resources and reforms are needed.

As a former Minister of State with responsibility for inland fisheries, I know the importance of the location and the processes of clear felling in the context of the possible impact on water quality, something that was particularly in evident at Lough Corrib and other lakes over the years. It is right and proper that we have these environmental regulations but, again, there is that balance between having the right of appeal and also ensuring that we have a supply of the raw material necessary. It is a balancing act.

The concept of a relevant person, which is the need for a person to have made a submission in order to submit an appeal, arose out of a desire to align the process with the planning process, and I do not believe it was an attempt to exclude people. However, it is important that the balance be struck. We all know of projects and developments that would improve quality of life around the country for citizens and communities but that have been the target of spurious and irrelevant objections from people with no connections to a particular county, and from people not affected in any way by the problems which the project aims to alleviate. We have had serial objectors to an array of projects. Despite enjoying privilege in this House, I will not name anyone, but many people know particular individuals who will object to everything and anything. If we like, they class themselves as professional objectors, which is a concern.

As others have said, the fees will not deter genuine objectors who can pay a certain amount of money in the knowledge that what they have to say will be taken on board by an appeals committee. However, a fee will deter serial objectors or certainly make them think twice - those who object to everything and anything. As I have said, coming from Galway, where major projects have been delayed and stopped by serial objectors, I am particularly strong on that.

At present, neither the forestry licensing system nor the appeals system are working for anybody. They are not working for the stakeholders, the businesses, the workers, the landowners, the communities involved in the sector or the parties with genuine and sincere concerns regarding applications. In that context, this legislation is important and must be enacted without delay.

As I said, I acknowledge the commitment of the Minister of State in bringing the Bill forward and in terms of the consultation process in August. I believe this is important legislation that has been much talked about. It will give the opportunity to speed up the process while still allowing genuine people to make appeals, but it will also, hopefully, deter spurious objectors in what is a very important sector for rural Ireland.