Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress on the revision of the forestry Acts which began in 1999; if he will reconsider his decision not to include the Forestry Act 1988 establishing the terms of operation for Coillte Teoranta, in view of public concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32716/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The scope of the review of forestry legislation referred to by the Deputy was set out in its Terms of Reference which were published on my Department's website. The review concentrated on the operational provisions of the various Forestry Acts. Consequently, the main focus was on the Forestry Act, 1946 although the Forestry Act, 1988 was not excluded as it also deals with operational matters. That review has now been completed.

Arising from that review a General Scheme of a new Forestry Bill was prepared. The Heads of the Forestry Bill were approved by Government and were sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. Drafting is now underway and a meeting between my Department and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to discuss this work took place on September 16 last.