Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This means that there was a return of €10 million or less on 1.2 million acres. Perhaps the rate of return could be better. The low rate of return may be prompting the sale of the crop.

I wish to mention a matter that is in the public domain. Are our guests in a position to confirm whether Helvetia Wealth AG has made approaches in respect of purchasing Coillte lands? In its press release of 26 November 2009, Coillte indicated that "The Fund [the International Forestry Fund] invests in forestry in Ireland" and that it was there to buy either existing forests or lands which would then be afforested. It also stated that its strategy was to acquire the title to all properties for the benefit and protection of its investors. This means that it would not be done for the good of the people. This mirrors the position on many of the issues with which we are dealing. Helvetia Wealth AG has made great capital of the fact that the chairperson of the International Forestry Fund is the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and stated he laid the foundations for a renewed Ireland that will benefit future generations of Irish people. I tend to think that is over-exaggerating it a little in this regard. Have our guests or any of the other members of Coillte's management team met Mr. Bertie Ahern, in either a public or private capacity, to discuss the sale of Coillte lands to his company?