Danny Healy-Rae demands debate over stalled felling licences
Danny Healy-Rae called for a full debate on delays in granting felling licences, warning that 12,000 jobs are at risk and accusing the forestry department and government of failing to act. He said a bill passed in the autumn provided no help and urged the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to address the issue.
Call for full debate on felling licences
He called for a full Dáil debate to explore what can be done to help people affected by the delay in granting felling licences. He said the forestry department is "not doing its duty" and that licences are not being granted, putting livelihoods in jeopardy.
Jobs at stake and criticism of autumn bill
He warned that up to 12,000 people could lose work if licences continue to be delayed and said the bill brought through in the fall of the year offered "no help at all whatsoever." He framed the situation as a serious industry failure needing urgent action.
Concerns about parliamentary procedure and access
He expressed reservations about the day's order of business, saying the business committee had agreed the week's order and that many deputies were denied time to raise issues. He criticised a new de facto process where any deputy can interrupt the order by calling for a debate, calling that unfair.
Appeal to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and calls for calm
He directly appealed to the Tánaiste to explain what is happening and asked the Taoiseach to be heard without interruption. The speech also included calls for colleagues to allow the Taoiseach to speak and for proceedings to be calm so deputies can raise outstanding concerns.
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Sean, there is still a massive delay in the granting of felling licences. I am calling for a full debate here to see can we do something to help 12,000 people remain in their jobs and this government has completely failed us in this regard and the forestry department is not doing its duty and is not granting felling licences. I am calling for a full debate here inside to debate what can we do to help these people and I am asking you, Tisha, are you aware of what is happening or what is not happening because this is a serious, a very serious issue. The forestry industry is nearly finished and the bill that he put through in the fall of the year, no help at all whatsoever. Thank you Deputy. I just have some reservations about what has happened here today because the business committee met, the business committee agreed the order for this week, I wasn't involved in that and we have had about 20 minutes now of the deputies and parties who agreed to the order business raising all sorts of issues but what I am also conscious of, there was meant to be a half an hour for other deputies to raise issues under raised legislation or other businesses and they have been denied the opportunities. Because other deputies get in ahead of them under the pretence of saying there should be a debate for this and there should be a debate for that. Now that means there is a new order of business process now in play here, de facto. Which is any deputy can stand up and say I believe we should have a debate in this and I am opposing the order of business. There is no way to proceed. And it is not fair. I just want to say my point through the chair now. Through the chair. You never mention the penny licences once in your response. You only want to create an army. I am appealing to you Taoiseach to do something about the penny licences that have not been granted. I would like for the government to brush it all under the carpet. That is all you want. Please, please, calm down. Can we hear the Taoiseach without interruption please? I just want to say there are many deputies in many parties in my own party and in other parties who have been denied an opportunity to raise issues because of what is going on here. Because they won't take you on! That is an abuse of the situation. They wouldn't be quiet if they were listening to the people that elected them. So, I want to thank Uncleités Shaun just for a moment I think I wanna know what is. But at the beginning there are many other people... ...the CSUAiyoruz. This is a problem that kept Chiwai's irrelevant. But as I had other people in this business, I think Hootie is the best member of the For example. One of the things I would like to say called Lucius and Maria is singing blessings that has been a critical creation for three years. Our buckles have certainly won. Now, back to me. Thank you. We are the only one of the characters in this movie has beencionalized.
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