Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ms Fitzpatrick is very welcome. She has an exciting and challenging job and I wish her the best of luck with that.

The news from the Minister on Coillte is fantastic. I am delighted. Obviously, the Labour Deputies knew ahead of time, and we had heard bits and pieces, but it is fantastic to hear the Minister formally say it. The Minister referenced repeatedly that it is an economic decision. He and I have different views on this, and I respect his view, but it is worth repeating that for the people I represent it is not just a financial decision. I said to someone after the debate in the Chamber on whether the harvesting rights should be sold that it was like partaking in a debate on whether the rights to speak the Irish language should be sold for 80 years. I know the Minister does not feel that way about the trees, and that is fine, but I and many people in Wicklow do feel that way about them.