Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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327. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if 13 (a) will be removed from the Forestry Bill 2013, and the collection of information for statistical purposes be undertaken voluntarily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43178/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Granting the Minister the power to obtain information from forest owners is an important provision which will allow the Minister to produce various statistics about the national forest estate. This information will facilitate, for example, timber supply forecasts and will also enable the Minister to comply with international reporting obligations on changes in carbon stocks in forests. The collection of this information will also help to inform that Minister on how forests are being managed and assist in determining the direction of future policy.

With a view to minimising any potential burden on forest holders, it is my intention that my Department will, in the first instance, and as far as is practically possible, seek to utilise information gathered from existing consent based application processes.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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328. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Forestry Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43179/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I have noted the points made by the IFA in this matter. The confidentiality requirement is very important in a situation where the Minister is delegating some of his functions to a Committee. It is important, therefore, that sanctions for breach of confidentiality reflect the level of responsibility that is being granted to members of the Committee. It is also important to note that penalties will only be imposed on conviction by the Courts.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that the fines associated with felling a tree without a licence or in contravention of a condition of the licence are excessive for the type of misconduct, if the fines will be reduced significantly to reflect the offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43180/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to the provisions of the Forestry Bill 2013. As the Deputy will appreciate it is important that any penalty for illegal activity such as illegal felling be sufficiently dissuasive, whilst proportionate, to deter any potential illegal actions. It should be noted that a penalty will only be imposed on a person following a conviction for an offence by the Courts and it will be a matter for the Courts to decide on the level of the appropriate penalty.

The Deputy will also be aware that in relation to minor offences relating to unlicensed felling the Bill provides for Fixed Penalty Notices. These will operate in a similar fashion to speeding fines and will allow minor offences to be dealt with without the offender being taken to Court, while also ensuring that illegally felled areas are replanted.