I move amendment No. 20: In page 5, to delete lines 7 and 8 and substitute the following: “(e) by the substitution of the following for subsection (6): “(6) The decisions of the Forestry Appeals Committee shall be subject to judicial review in the High Court, and such judicial review proceedings will provide for no lesser cost protection than is envisaged for applicants under section 3 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, in order to ensure wide access to justice.”.”.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 5, line 20, after "Committee." to insert the following: "Any such regulations have to be consistent with providing for fairness of procedures and in providing wide access to the appeal mechanism of the Forestry Appeals Committee.". The Minister of State might like to outline her position on this.

I am fine.

I echo what Senator Boylan said. The whole thing about access to information in environmental matters is critical. As we debate, I cannot stop thinking about what a disadvantage we are at by not having the information about the public consultation. We have been seeking it during the week but we cannot get it. I do not know how much it has influenced this legislation, but I will know and I will be delighted to remind the Minister of State when I get that information. Neither the Minister of State nor her Department …

To clarify to ensure there is no misunderstanding, there are people lobbying and engaged with the Department and officials. I have no problem with lobbyists as they are covered under lobbying legislation. I looked at the register provided for in the legislation and I am fully aware of what lobbying took place with officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I know the names. They are legitimate and were put on the register. I am satisfied there was lobbying in agriculture, horticulture, forestr…

Then we can take our initiative and contact those politicians and others who also made submissions.

Some people mentioned me by name. One of the great things is there is a stenographer here and all this is recorded. We can all look at this in the calmness of tomorrow morning. I want to put the record straight. I am not that much of an eejit now. I made the point that lobbying is legitimate and a professional job. There is a lobbyist register. I said it is open for anyone to see. Just be careful. I looked at the register and I am satisfied in respect of a range of issues that there had been lobbying within the Dep…

Sorry, do I need to say it again?

Absolutely not.

I am making the point.

Anyone can look at the register and I will look at it again. I have printed it in my office and I will circulate it if that helps to enlighten people.

I move amendment No. 34: In page 5, after line 40, to insert the following: “(7) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing subsections, an appellant or party to an appeal or observer shall be allowed to furnish additional information to an appeal where the provision of that information has been compromised by delays in the processing of requests made under Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 on public access to environmental information.”.

I move amendment No. 35: In page 5, after line 40, to insert the following: “(7) The Minister shall make regulations to provide for the notification of appeals made to the Forestry Appeals Committee and to allow for the input from observers to any such appeal, in order to maintain consistency with the standard of appeal available in other sectors such as planning and aquaculture in that regard.”.

I move amendment No. 36: In page 6, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(10) The Minister shall make regulations in respect of the obligation in decision-making of the Forestry Appeals Committee in determining appeals, in respect of environmental obligations arising under Directives of the European Union, including, but not limited to: (a) Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on t…

I note the Minister of State's response to the amendments. In the interests of being helpful because I am conscious there will be another day here for the Minister of State, I will proceed with amendment No. 36, if that is agreeable to the House.

I move amendment No. 39: In page 6, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “(aa) The Minister shall make regulations in respect of the conduct by the Forestry Appeals Committee with regard to: (i) screening for appropriate assessment; (ii) screening for environmental impact assessment; (iii) appropriate assessment; (iv) environmental impact assessment, and compliance of the Forestry Appeals Committee with Article 4 of the Water Framework Directive in respect of obligations to assess the impact on water q…

I move amendment No. 42: In page 6, to delete lines 39 and 40.

I move amendment No. 43: In page 7, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(12A) Where an appeal is brought to the Forestry Appeals Committee against a decision of the Minister, and is not withdrawn, the Forestry Appeals Committee shall determine the application as if it had been made to the Forestry Appeals Committee in the first instance and the decision of the Forestry Appeals Committee shall operate to annul the decision of the Minister as from the time when it was given; and the Forestry Appeals Comm…

I would like a brief comment from the Minister of State.

I move amendment No. 44: In page 7, to delete lines 10 to 13 and substitute the following: “(b) and—”.