Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senators again for their engagement on this section of the Bill. I agree that it is right that people should have access to justice. This Bill, in its current format, does not prevent anyone from taking a judicial review based on the results of the forestry appeals committee. It remains open to appellants, or indeed applicants, who are unhappy with the review or appeal of an application, to apply for leave to take a judicial review following the decision of the forestry appeals committee, and without insertion of this provision. The whole point of the forestry appeals committee is to save people from having to go to court, which we all know is incredibly expensive and time consuming, but still an important process and it is available to people should they wish to continue to seek justice in that way.It is the only route available to many people across Europe, particularly in Scotland, for example. If people there are unhappy with forestry licences, that is it. There are no grounds for appeal. We have inserted this provision and brought this forestry appeals committee into our forestry system, through the Agriculture Appeals Acts, to do just that. It saves people the hassle of having to bring their appeals to court, as would be the case in other jurisdictions. Essentially, the forestry appeals committee provides that option to people who are unhappy with a decision without having to seek justice in a court at that stage. However, anyone who is unhappy with the findings of the forestry appeals committee can seek judicial review. If that review is accepted by the High Court he or she can then go to court. The amendments are, therefore, unnecessary and I will not be accepting them.