Mr. Mike Glennon:

We do more than that. This is where people lose sight of the multiple benefits of forestry. Very few fully understand that our industry is essential, although it became very evident during Covid. Some 90% of all products are transported on wooden pallets. Without the wood for those pallets, there would be an issue. A really interesting point is that one of the customers to which we supply wood was manufacturing the pallets for Meditron, the company that made the ventilators. Timber is such an inherent part of our lives that we do not see it, but 90% of products are transported on wooden pallets. It is a very significant sector.

To further allay the committee's fear and concern, on average 90% of the material we take into construction will pass the C16 grade to be used for houses. It is a very high percentage. We are currently doing that in Ireland and we are going to do it in Scotland. There is no question about the suitability or fitness of home-grown Irish timber for building houses.