Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Peter McReynolds on .
- MLA
- Mr Peter McReynolds
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 21 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5742549
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for giving way. At present, it is based on expediency, as in if a tree is going to be damaged or felled for works taking place nearby or for whatever reason. The next test is amenity. What does "amenity" mean? It is not defined in the 2011 Act. Ecosystem services were endorsed recently by DAERA and by DFI as well, I learned just today, in its SPPS document. The Bill introduces components that can be used in an application for a TPO, but the expediency test will still need to be met. There must be a risk that the tree might need to be felled for whatever reason. It is not as though somebody will suddenly try to TPO every tree. The expediency point is incredibly important, because there is a fear that a legal mechanism needs to be used in the case of a breach and the felling of the tree; that is the primary thing here.
162 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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