Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank IMPACT for the presentation and congratulate it on the tremendous service it has given the Irish people by producing this report. It has certainly prompted a discussion within Government in this regard - hopefully, with the right outcome. Greencore and Eircom were mentioned. Many members of this committee have been trying to get the beet industry back after it was given away by the last Government in disgraceful circumstances. It was an industry around which many of us grew up and to which we owe a lot.

We have had many presentations on the sale of Coillte and from day one, my party has been totally opposed to it. We see Coillte as a profitable asset which is beneficial to the people. In a presentation last year, a person alluded to the fact that if it was sold, the more lucrative parts of the harvesting side would be seen as more viable and they would attract the interest and the State would be left with the more unviable side. Is that IMPACT's view also? What would be the consequences if that happened, that is, if the more lucrative parts of the harvesting rights were sold off?

IMPACT mentioned that positive reforms would help to secure the future of Coillte going forward. Will it elaborate a little on what it means by positive reforms and the role IMPACT can play in that regard? What worries me greatly is the impact on jobs. Some 600 people are employed directly and 2,500 are employed in the timber mills. Up 12, 000 other jobs could be affected. Deputy Ó Cuív said that if it was bought by an outside company and it took the logs out of the country, it would damage jobs.

In regard to the price of the sale, is IMPACT relying on what Dr. Bacon said, that is, €774 million? IMPACT alluded to the fact that Coillte was making €43 per cubic metre when it should be making €78. Will it elaborate a little on that? I thank IMPACT and applaud it on the work it has done. It has done us a great service. I hope the decision-makers will take cognisance of its presentation, the work done and the campaign it has run to protect a national asset.