Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Ceisteanna (752)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

752. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 10 November 2016, the reason she did not inform any regulatory authority or the Garda when a report she received, which was sought by her to inform a reply to a parliamentary question regarding unauthorised felling in a Natura 2000 heritage woodland, detailed that a number of oaks between 60 and 80 years old, with some older, which had been protected under a condition inserted in a general felling licence at her Department’s request had been felled, an offence under section 51 of the Forestry Act 1946; and the reason she had and has for not disclosing information which she knew would be of material assistance to the Garda in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction for this offence. [41090/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

As I previously advised the Deputy, the forestry activities referred to have been carried out under license from the Forest Service, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While my Department was consulted by the Forest Service as the woodland concerned is situated adjacent to, and partially within, a Special Area of Conservation, it is a matter for the Forest Service to determine if there were any breaches of licence conditions and, if so, whether any action needs to be taken in relation to such breaches under the provisions of the Forestry Acts.