Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, for their presentation. Most of my questions have already been asked by the other committee members. I will wait to see what the answers are. I was not here for the first day of hearings, but this is a very useful insight into the way Coillte operates. Some basic questions about the contracts need to be answered. It is very useful for this committee in its dealings with Coillte. When we heard from other groups on Coillte contracts, hauliers of wood, for example, we heard that they were treated as badly as farmers had been. It seems to be endemic where Coillte is concerned. Is this a matter of a big corporate body dealing with individual farmers who might not know any better and simply taking advantage of the situation? What has actually happened? It seems that there has been some improvement in the contracts in recent years. How has that come about, and why has that improvement taken place? It is probably because people have received advice and become more involved. Why do the witnesses believe this improvement has happened? I would like to comment later, if possible.