Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have had a very good debate here. The Coillte delegation got a fair interrogation here this evening because we, as a committee, are concerned about the strategy of Coillte. As I said in my opening remarks, the mission objective of Coillte and what it wants to achieve are exceptionally good. However, we, as a committee, are worried that Irish land will go into the hands of investment companies and we will have no say about the land going forward. As Deputy Fitzmaurice has stated, recently the criteria for the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, has changed and we are concerned that this is the reason investment companies are getting into this business because they see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I suggest, as Chairman of this committee, that we discuss in a private meeting whether we contact and invite the Minister to come in so we can question him about this strategy and ask him whether this is the best route for Irish forestry.

We, as a committee, discuss what happens in the agriculture, food and marine sectors. The Coillte delegation has given us a very good briefing and, therefore, left us with a very good understanding of its strategy. The end road is perfect and that is where we all want to get to, but it is the vehicle being used to get there that has caused us to be concerned. I understand there is no financial gain from non-commercial timber and that companies will invest in it to enhance their image. There is now a question about who will own the carbon credits, but leaving that aside, I am not as worried about non-commercial timber as I am worried about commercial timber. With the level of profits Coillte makes, I cannot understand why we are relinquishing control of the purchase of extra land. In the past it was because premiums were not available to Coillte, but they are now so I cannot understand why the sums do not add up.

We have had very informative session and, as Chairman, I appreciate the delegation coming in. We, as a committee, were very anxious to talk about this issue before the Christmas recess because people have contacted us with a lot of questions about this matter. Deputy Sherlock raised questions about the private sector, and private sector entities have lobbied us and have come before the committee in meetings on a few occasions because they are worried about this development going forward.

The cost of land is an issue that has been touched on this evening. A major player has been put into the fray with fairly limitless funds. It has been said that will not have an inflationary impact on the price of land but I do not wear that. The price of forestry land has increased very substantially in the past 12 months, so I can only see that going one way, and the price of better farmland has also increased in price. Perhaps there are other reasons for the price increase such as environmental reasons because farmers want to get extra ground to cover their nitrates commitments etc.

Coillte has presented a strategy here this evening that has great objectives, but 100,000 ha of land will be commercially planted. That is a lot of land and it has left us feeling uneasy, so we will discuss the matter. Having listened to the conversation here this evening, I believe all of the committee members are singing off the same hymn sheet and we will agree to discuss with the Minister whether we want this future for the ownership of Irish forestry.