Vol. 484 No. 4
15 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources when his Department will finalise details of the proposed code of best forest practice to cover all stages of the forest cycle, from seed to harvesting and replanting. [22476/97]
The code of best forest practice is currently being drafted by the Forest Service to set out the best code of practice in all stages of the forestry management cycle, from seed selection through establishment and maintenance to timber harvesting and transport.
Preparation of the code is a major undertaking involving extensive reference to developments in other countries and addressing a wide range of issues, including achieving the integration of forest management, maintaining biodiversity, ensuring sustainability, maintaining and restoring productivity, addressing sociological concerns and maintaining forest health while integrating biological, social and behavioural sciences. I expect that a draft will be available for wide consultation around Easter 1998. Following such consultation I hope that the redrafted version will be published before the end of 1998.
The Minister is embarking on an impressive code of best forest practice to cover all stages of the forest cycle. I am particularly interested in the harvesting cycle of that code of practice. I need not remind the Minister that the harvesting of timber by Coillte and private foresters entails heavy machinery travelling on county roads which ultimately damages them as they were not designed to bear such heavy traffic. Does the Minister envisage making provision in the code of practice for compensation to be paid to councils for any damage that might be done to these roads to ensure they are restored to proper county road standard?
I have heard the Deputy's concerns on a number of occasions. I assure him that the code of best forest practice will apply equally to the private and public sector. I am very anxious that my Department will monitor this in some way as soon as the code of practice is put in place. Any damage caused to roads will not be looked on with favour by my Department.
I have been informed that Ireland has been taken to task by the European Commission for environmentally destructive practices in relation to afforestation. Could the Minister confirm that and will he inform the House of what he intends to do about this serious situation?
I cannot confirm the Deputy's information. If the Deputy wishes to table a question on the matter, I will attempt to clarify it for him. I assure him that the new code of best forest practice should be of assistance in respect of any such difficulties.
I have tabled a question on the matter; it is No. 32 on today's Order Paper.
Deputy Gormley's question will be answered in the normal way.
