Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Peter McReynolds on 21 September 2026.

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 5742819

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I begin by thanking Members for their contributions today. It is fair to say that things have been pretty dicey for a number of Members' Bills at Second Stage, but I genuinely appreciate the tone that has been taken and the constructive feedback that I have received. That is what I have always sought throughout the entire process, and that has been achieved today. I believe that I have put forward pragmatic proposals, to which the Minister alluded, that seek to protect trees and woodlands across Northern Ireland. I look forward to the Bill's hopefully progressing to Committee Stage, where we will continue to do that and also iron out potential issues. I thank the Minister and her officials for their input to get the Bill to this stage, and I look forward to their ongoing commitment and to further engagement with them. I have been scribbling notes furiously, so I will now turn to the broad themes that came up today. I acknowledge the pressures on councils. I mentioned the frustrations of tree officers and am keen to make sure that they are supported. I will be more than happy if we can iron out those issues. The Chair of the Infrastructure Committee asked at one point whether the system is failing. I believe that it is failing, and the lack of enforcement that we saw during that three-year period references that.
Thank you, Chair. That is why it is so important that we have the Bill that is in front of us today. Mr Boggs mentioned the all-island nature. I mentioned that my tree enthusiasts, who are regularly in contact with me, let me know that Maynooth University is working alongside the Woodland Trust to create the all-Ireland map to which he referred, so work is ongoing to achieve that. Mr McGrath is not here at the moment, but I greatly enjoyed his input and his stories about trees. I have already started receiving photos of the bendy tree and the invisible tree on my mobile phone. His contribution reminded me of the number of stories that I heard during the consultation process and had forgotten about. At one point, Belfast City Council was highlighting the importance of trees by asking a number of local celebrities to plant trees in the city. The first story that I heard was about May McFettridge, who planted a tree out the front of Belfast City Hall. I heard a story about Alex Higgins, who was famously photographed planting trees on Sandy Row. The one that I always remember, however, given the religious connotations, was the story of how the Dalai Lama planted not just one but two trees in Belfast. That is what it comes back to: we need to hear a lot more stories about trees. Mrs Erskine said that she misses our time together on the Infrastructure Committee. I miss our time together, too, Deborah, but we probably did not talk about trees very much. Rather, we talked about babies. She will probably show me some photographs after the debate. Mr Mathison mentioned legacy, and that is what the Bill is trying to achieve. I am reminded of a breakdown moment with my former policy officer, Caitlin Sullivan, when I was wondering what a particular strand of the Bill was seeking to achieve. She told me that that strand was not going to do anything now but that, when people look back in 100 years' time and consider ancient woodland, it will have achieved something. The important thing is that we are looking at leaving a legacy. Mr Martin talked about so much, but the word that I wrote down the second that he said it was "consensus". It was mentioned when we were talking about Tullynagardy Wood, and we have seen that consensus today in our recognition of the broad principles of the Bill. Mr Harvey asked lots of questions, and I look forward to working with Harry to answer them in the Committee over the coming months.
Mr McNulty made a very good case for the Committee to go to see some fairy trees. I am sure that they will be protected under the Bill. His was a very enlightening contribution, and we can hopefully head down to see some fairy trees. I apologise if I have missed out anyone. There are a lot of papers on my desk. I thank everyone for their contributions today, and I look forward to working with everyone should the Bill pass to its next stage.

761 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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