Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I believe I will be providing a positive service when I ask for clarification. I recognise that there is not an exclusion in the Bill, but is there a point where there is an explicit inclusion per se? This is not about future legislation but relates specifically to section 14B(2) proposed to be inserted by the Bill. That subsection reads:

The Forestry Appeals Committee may make such rules in relation to the conduct of appeals as it considers appropriate and shall publish those rules on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Committee.

Separately, amendment No. 30 deals with section 14B(3). That subsection reads:

The Forestry Appeals Committee may, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient, fair and timely determination of an appeal, issue a direction in respect of the conduct of the appeal.

These amendments were specifically around ensuring that the Minister of State is absolutely confident about more than her intentions. Is she confident that it is not within the power and mandate of the forestry appeals committee to set a rule such as may exclude a category of person from accessing that process? Will the Minister of State give that assurance to the House? It would be useful because it will assure people. I will repeat that if there is a point in the Bill where there is an explicit inclusion that ensures and embeds the fact that all persons may make appeals, I apologise that I am not seeing it and it would be useful to hear where that is. I say again that I recognise there is no exclusion. I am trying to be constructive and to copper-fasten the legislation for the future.