Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for being here. Ms Hurley referred in her opening statement to a "crisis in the sector". I presume she has used that phrase in her engagement with the officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. What was the Department's response in that regard? Has it acknowledged there is a crisis or has it sought to defend its own position? Does Ms Hurley believe the Mackinnon report will address some of the crises she mentioned?

Ms Hurley also spoke about the sawmills being under pressure to have native Irish timber at their disposal. Some sawmills are importing timber from as far away as Russia. Does Coillte understand and acknowledge that people have lost confidence in this sector? Does Ms Hurley believe the forestry sector has a future under the current leadership in the Department? I refer in that regard to officials in the Department and not the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, who is only recently appointed to that role. I think she has inherited a huge problem. Questions need to be asked of the officials who have overseen this crisis over the last ten years.