Mr. John Corrigan:

The NewERA unit within the NTMA is providing advice to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine among other Departments on the possible sale of State assets and the sale of the harvesting rights in Coillte is one of those projects under consideration on foot of a Government decision. In regard to that aspect I did not come prepared today in that I do not have the figures. I do not know if they are in the public domain but coming back to my earlier comment these are policy decisions made by the Government and we either execute or advise on them. We do not wake up in the morning and decide to sell the harvesting rights of Coillte. That was a decision taken in principle by Government and the advisers in NewERA are helping the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in working through that project to see whether it is worthwhile proceeding with it.

In the interests of trying to be open with members, I will happily revert to them in writing on the question of valuation. I have many figures in my head, but there is a limit to what I can carry around.