Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses today to discuss this important issue. It is one that needs to be highlighted and landowners who are in a bind because of these so-called partnership contracts need answers. I say "so-called" because partner seems to be a misnomer when describing the agreements in place between these landowners and Coillte. Many of the cases described show a commercial imbalance between the outcome for Coillte and that for farmers. If people like the woman Mr. Sweetman mentioned had half an idea of what they were getting into they would not have gotten into it at all. There are clear problems.

How many farmers are adversely affected by this? How many have contacted the witnesses? I note what Mr. Sweetman says about the 60 calls to the helpline. The managing director of Coillte, Mr. Gerard Murphy, acknowledged a problem with transparency and communication, which is welcome. To what extent are the problems raised by those 60 being worked through in a satisfactory manner? Are they being told this is what they signed up to? How are they being helped when they call the helpline?

I note that it is not widely known that there is a helpline. That is unfortunate to say the least. Having listened to all that has been said, read the information supplied to us and having listened to some individual landowners, it is obvious that these are flawed contracts and partnership documents because farmers or landowners are getting a very raw deal. To what extent are any aspects of, or clauses in, the contract, and Mr. Sweetman described seven main contracts and maybe 35 variations on those, void or unenforceable? Mr. Healy referred to methodology. Is it so vague that the farmers could not establish their likely incomes? I understand there are certain unknowns in respect of forestry and it seems some people bought a pig in a bag.

In respect of the liens on the land and the land being encumbered, is Mr. Sweetman saying these partnerships were registered with the Land Registry as the title of the property in all cases?