Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1508. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons appointed to the forestry appeals commission or divisions thereof since 30 September 2020; the professional expertise of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32645/20]
View answer1509. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals heard by the forestry appeals commission or divisions thereof since 30 September 2020; the results of the hearings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32646/20]
View answer1514. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry appeals committee divisions which have been established in order that multiple appeals can be heard simultaneously; when they will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32704/20]
View answer1519. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32782/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1508, 1509, 1514 and 1519 together.
The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 was signed into law by the President on 2 October 2020 and the Act commenced on 6 October 2020 in full. The secondary legislation required to give effect to the Act was introduced on 7th October.
The new Act, amending the Agriculture Appeals Act was designed to align forestry licensing appeals process with best practice in other appeals processes. Among other things, it allows for the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to determine appeals by enabling it to sit in divisions of itself.
I have moved quickly to resource the FAC to realise the provisions as set out in the Act and have appointed 3 Deputy Chairs along with 2 ordinary members. These individuals have been elected on the recommendation of the current Chair of the FAC and have been selected with regard to their particular expertise on issues such as environmental regulation, silvicultural issues and appeals processes. Agriculture Appeals officers will be deployed to sit on these committees also. Two additional persons with planning expertise have also been contracted to assist members of the FAC.
The FAC will therefore have 4 committees sitting in the month of November. The question of whether hearings are oral or non-oral is a matter for the Committee.
It is a matter for the FAC alone to determine the scheduling of appeal hearings as the Committee is operationally independent of my Department. The FAC has, I understand, scheduled 70 hearings for November. It will be a matter for the FAC to report on their own progress and they update their decisions weekly at:
http://www.agriappeals.gov.ie/forestryappealscommittee/
I believe that the provisions in the Act will greatly improve the overall system with more timely decisions on licences under appeal being made by the FAC.
