Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is important to remember that this legislation is born out of a passion for planting trees and for increasing the footprint of forestry across the country, and for ensuring that everyone can take part. That is where it is coming from. Sometimes, it is more appropriate to do things in regulations than in primary legislation. It allows one to do the appropriate assessments. I understand that this is where it is coming from.

I agree with a lot of Senator Boylan's comments. People are looking for assurances, and that is fair enough. When this came before us on Committee Stage a lot of the ideas were welcome. I would agree with a lot of what is being said and the ideas that are there. We just want to make sure that this is in the regulations and that the proper consultation happens, which should happen under appropriate assessment so that all the ideas and expertise that people have will inform the regulations. As I have said, and I go back to the very important point, without this legislation we would not have the idea of small-scale planting. That is where we want to get to. I thank all Members for their contributions and I thank the Minister.