I move amendment No. 58: 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 directives on birds, habitats and water, (f) Just Transition, and (g) such other priorities as might be set out in a national forestry programme subsequent to the expiry of the…

I move amendment No. 59: 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) the National Pollinator Plan, (f) Just Transition, (g) the promotion of broadleaf planting and continuous cover forestry, (h) economically and environmentally sustainable forest g…

I move amendment No. 60: 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 and the climate change and biodiversity crisis, (b) the National Pollinator Plan, (c) Just Transition, (d) the promotion of broadleaf planting and continuous cover forestry, (e) social impact and public amenity, (f) such other priorities as might be set out in a national forestry programme, subsequent to t…

I move amendment No. 61: 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 the need to support economically and environmentally sustainable forest goods and services in the State.”.

I move amendment No. 84: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(3) In prescribing under subsection (1), the Minister shall set fees at a cost that is fair and equitable, that is not prohibitive and which does not discourage the making of an appeal.”.”.

I move amendment No. 85: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(3) When prescribing under subsection (1), the Minister shall have regard to the following: (a) the importance of promoting public participation in the forestry sector; (b) the obligations of the State under the Aarhus Convention, other international obligations, and the need to encourage the involvement of the public in environmental decision-making; and (c) the public good provided by individual citizens, experts, groups with ex…

I move amendment No. 86: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “(3) When prescribing under subsection (1), the Minister shall also provide for a concurrent scheme whereby an appellant may apply for a fee waiver on the grounds of financial hardship and a consequential inability to pay.”.”.

I move amendment No. 87: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “Right to appeal 14G. No rule or direction made under any part of this Act shall allow for the exclusion of a person or category of person in Ireland from making an appeal under this Act.”. These issues have already been discussed. They relate to ensuring that no category of person should be disadvantaged.

I move amendment No. 88: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “Right to appeal 14G. No rule or direction made under any part of this Act shall allow for the exclusion of a person or category of person ordinarily resident in Ireland from making an appeal under this Act.”.

With the permission of my co-signatory, I will withdraw it.

I move amendment No. 89: In page 10, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: "Right to appeal 14G. No rule or direction made under any part of this Act shall allow for any new exclusion of a person or category of person from making an appeal under this Act.".

I move amendment No. 94: In page 10, line 37, after "continue” to insert ", only for a period of 12 months,".

I move amendment No. 97: In page 10, after line 39, to insert the following: "(4) The Minister shall revisit the appointments to the Forestry Appeals Committee in order to ensure the independence and requisite expertise and experience of the Committee, particularly in respect of environmental legislation, water quality, biodiversity and climate considerations, within a period of 12 months of the coming into operation of section 3 and/or section 4.".

I move amendment No. 104: In page 11, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: "7. Not later than 30 January 2022, the Minister shall— (a) review the operation and effectiveness of this Act and the effect of its provisions, including on consideration of the effect of any fees imposed on the accessibility of the appeal mechanism; detailed rationale for any fees imposed; issues encountered with the provisions; the status of regulations provided for under the Act; proposals in relation to commencement of provis…

I warmly welcome the Minister to the House and it is also my first chance to congratulate him on his role. Like others, I want to open by giving credit and paying tribute to all of those teachers, principals and parents who have been working extraordinarily hard over months to try to prepare for reopening schools in difficult circumstances and in going above and beyond the call of duty. There are also the cleaning and maintenance staff in schools and, crucially, the school secretaries. This is a clear moment for th…

I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach on his new role. Having worked with him at the Council of Europe, I know he will bring great gravitas and thought to it. I welcome the Minister of State to the Seanad, a space where she has been before. However, I have to join with everybody to say it is unfortunate that in the first meeting we have here, the Minister of State is contributing to a practice we have seen of rushing through legislation and indeed short-circuiting due legislative scrutiny. It has been pointed out …

-----because not all trees do the same thing. I will table nine amendments to that section. I urge the Minister of State to accept one of them or to produce one of her own. I ask her please to consider her own forestry plan.

I wish to raise a point of order, a Chathaoirligh, which relates directly to the Member speaking about putting things on the record.

It is related to the Order of Business and to the question of what is being put on the record. It is in the discretion and power of the Government to convene and to have other sessions. The suggestion is that other Members of this House have somehow stopped the Government from having a session with the Minister. As somebody who has strong views on higher education, the return to higher education and education in general, to suggest that we have stopped that from happening is an inaccuracy. Given that the previous s…

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