Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the witnesses and thank them for the presentation. We will meet Coillte after this session.

Mr. Healy said approximately 630 farmers signed up between 1993 and 2012. Most or all of these contracts are weighted towards Coillte because the farmers took Coillte at face value as being an arm of the State. We as politicians know from our daily dealings with people that for every four people who would be that naïve there is always one meticulous man who will go to the ends of the earth, through his solicitor, before signing a contract.

In those situations, which I have no doubt did arise, were different contracts drawn up? What I am trying to get to is whether it was the case that Coillte was cherry-picking, knowing that the contract was weighted in its favour, but if somebody questioned it and got legal advice it was prepared to come back with a redraft that was more farmer-friendly. I am trying to get to the bottom of that aspect of this issue.

Leaving the nature and the set-up of the contract aside, it is bound to have aspects favourable to the farmer. Are they being honoured? Is Coillte honouring the contracts, irrespective of the way they are weighted or is this problem partly due to Coillte not honouring contracts, irrespective of their nature?