Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to say how dismayed I am at how this meeting has gone. I do not ever remember a Fine Gael or Green Party Minister of Government taking such a party political and partisan approach when replying to questions that we, as members representing the people, ask. I am taken aback by the way that went. I found it shocking actually. I hope it is not necessary for the Chair to remind the Minister that he is here to answer questions from us and not to pose questions. I hope this does not happen at any other committee meetings we have in future.

I very much welcome the €1.3 billion for Irish forestry. I think all of us, including the Government, were taken aback by the response from the public to the Gresham House deal. I do not believe I have ever had as many emails on an issue, apart from on the mother and baby institutions issue. People were taken aback by that deal. I know changes are being made to that.

We need monoculture forestry, such as spruce, because we have to start building homes using wood, rather than bricks and mortar, notwithstanding that it is of inferior quality. People want to see afforestation with native trees. Has the Minister had any consultation with Coillte on reducing the use of chemicals on its land?