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Northern Ireland Minister Michelle Gildernew
has secured the final approval of the Assembly to important
new legislation on forestry.
Following general debate and a vote on the Bill, the Final
Stage of the Forestry Bill was secured in the Assembly.
The Minister said - “It is over fifty years since the last
Forestry Act and this one could very well last as long. I
believe we have struck the right balance in the crucial amendments
to the Bill agreed at Consideration Stage and that the Bill
was positively developed in a spirit of co-operation. We now
have a very good and modern piece of legislation - flexible,
balanced and completely fit for purpose.”
The Minister added - “The final approval of the Forestry
Bill in the Assembly is a milestone for the future development
of our forestry sector. I am confident that the powers in
the Forestry Bill will address my Department’s contemporary
and evolving commercial, environmental and social objectives
for forestry and will allow us to obtain better value from
the forest estate.”
The Forestry Bill and the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum
are available on the Assembly website
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