Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
327. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if section 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]
View answerGranting 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.
