Forestry Certification.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004

Tuesday, 6 July 2004

Questions (81)

Dan Boyle

Question:

113 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his advice for private forest owners who require Forest Stewardship Council certification and who are dissuaded from acquiring certification due to the high expenditure required for private persons. [20255/04]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

This is an area of concern that my Department has already identified.

The Forest Service and the National Council for Forest Research and Development (COFORD) are currently helping the development of an audit protocol which will facilitate sustainable forest management and certification of compliance with existing Forest Service guidelines and standards.

This protocol will take account of the independent and autonomous certification processes such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the PAN European Forestry Certification.