Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

No small farmer will be able to compete with these big investment funds. They can increase the price of land at any time they like. We are asking the Minister to withdraw this policy which will drive small farmers and foresters out of the business. This allows Gresham House and other investment companies to come in and buy up our land. We sold our oil, gas and fisheries. The Minister will now be responsible for selling the one last thing we have, our land and forestry.

We were reaching targets before Coillte came in or when it was only a small player in the market. The Government has driven foresters and small farmers out. That is where Coillte is coming back into it. It is bringing investment funds back in with it. The Minister is sitting and watching it go ahead. When did he become involved? Was he involved at the start with Gresham House and Coillte when those discussions took place? The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, knew about it in March 2021. When did the Minister become aware of it? Did he know about it before 2021?