Mr. John Murray:

There were a couple of good points in what Deputy Collins said. The forest service should be a service. It should not be an impediment and that is what it is at present.

From the Gresham House point of view - the joint venture with Coillte - my concern is that this is a way to overcome the impasse we have with the lack of planting. It is just a sticking plaster. It is just a way of trying to get trees in the ground but, as Mr. Mike Glennon said, it is not. Only 30% of this is new forestry. The main thrust of this is existing forestry. I do not believe a State body should be using State funding - the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF - and joint venture funding to enhance its position in what is already a monopoly market. Gresham House is well entitled to do whatever it wants in any market - that is what venture capitalists do - but I do not believe the joint venture with a State company will serve our industry well.