I am actually about to speak to the amendment.

We do not need Second Stage speeches. It is around this amendment-----

There is a question which relates directly to the amendment. Will people experience a delay from one part of our public system which will stop them from activating their rights under another part?

The specific question put by Senator Boylan was whether we can have assurances that anybody who seeks access to information on the environment that he or she needs in respect of lodging an appeal will be given information at the point that all information is initially attached to an original decision. Secondly-----

-----can we guarantee if we are imposing a time limit and such a requirement of 28 days and indeed the provision of all information at that point, that there will be no instances-----

No, I have not. I am asking the Minister of State now-----

-----for an explicit assurance on that issue-----

-----of the information on the website but also on the question that if somebody is to lodge an access to environmental information request, that person will get that information in a timely manner-----

-----to allow him or her to enact within a 28-day-----

I move amendment No. 33: In page 5, to delete lines 36 to 40.

The amendment seeks to remove lines that narrow the circumstances under which the forestry appeals committee might reject an appeal. The Minister of State might clarify the position.

I move amendment No. 45: In page 7, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: "(c) When notifying an appellant of a determination, the Forestry Appeals Committee will include a report on how- (i) Ireland’s commitments and targets on climate change and biodiversity, (ii) the Sustainable Development Goals, (iii) relevant EU directives, (iv) the need or otherwise for an environmental impact assessment or appropriate assessment, and (v) a National Forestry Programme, have been considered in the Forestry Appeals…

The reason a large number of the licences are being appealed is concern that the committee has failed to address the issue of properly considering whether environmental impact assessments or other appropriate assessments are required at the licensing stage. I am not going to labour my point about the committee but I really urge the Minister of State to re-examine it before she brings the legislation to the Dáil. There is a risk. The legislation currently states that where the committee considers it necessary and ex…

I move amendment No. 49: In page 7, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: "(15) When notifying an appellant of a determination, the Forestry Appeals Committee will inform the appellant of their right to challenge the Committee’s decision in the High Court.".

As I understand it, we are addressing amendments Nos. 54 to 71, inclusive, together. On amendment No. 54, my main concern does not relate primarily to the idea of the Minister giving policy directives. That may be appropriate and it may allow for an evolving policy so I am not strictly against the Minister giving policy directives. There may be call for it and that is why I supported that amendment. My main concern is the removal of that section if section 14D(2) was still in play. Section 14D(2) is my real concern…

That is fine. I thank the Senator for clarifying that.

I apologise to Senator Lombard if I made a wrong suggestion. I was simply saying we do not know where they came from. As we know that 99% of those who made submissions in favour of the Bill did not mention any policy issue, we know that such a suggestion can only have come from 1% of the 81% of those who submitted in favour of the Bill. That is less than 0.81% as a potential source for this recommendation. However, that is by the by. What really matters in this House is the legislation and the powers of the Ministe…

I greatly appreciate that the Minister of State has decided to take the amendment on board as it will replace the language of yield with one of support and reads: "When making a directive ... the Minister shall have regard to the need to support economically and environmentally sustainable forest goods and services in the State." While it does not fully address my concern about non-economic issues regarding biodiversity, I recognise that this is a great improvement and I thank her for putting it forward. I will sti…

I move amendment No. 55: In page 8, between lines 15 and 16, to delete insert “, having regard to the matter specified in subsection (2),".

I move amendment No. 57: In page 8, to delete lines 22 to 24 and substitute the following: ““(2) When making a directive under this section, the Minister shall have regard to— (a) the Sustainable Development Goals, (b) the climate change and biodiversity crisis, (c) Ireland's targets in respect of emissions reduction, (d) biodiversity, (e) EU Directive 92/43/EEC, (f) EU Directive 2009/147/EC, (g) EU Directive 2000/60/EC, (h) the National Pollinator Plan, (i) Just Transition, (j) the promotion of broadleaf planting …