Mr. Gerard Murphy:

I do not think so. Some 20 years ago, there was a certain way of trying to get many more farmers into forestry. There were blockages, particularly relating to the fear of getting into forestry and what that actually meant. In that time, we tried to develop a partnership that gave access to management expertise and income continuity. As the years have gone on, farmers themselves have got much more sophisticated in planting their own forests and are much more confident in how they see the forests themselves. It probably mimics what is starting to be seen in Europe where forestry is a very well-established farm enterprise, which would not have been the case perhaps 20 or 30 years ago in Ireland. Most planting was done by the State 20 years ago, by the predecessor to Coillte, the Forest Service.

Deputy Pringle asked if the seven were really representative on the basis that future individuals are not yet receiving the annuity. Some of the seven are people who are not necessarily getting the annuity now but may get it in the next couple of years. They have said that they will look at various options. Some of the issues that have been drawn to our attention relating to the annuity over the last couple of months, such as the annual statement, will be significantly alleviated by the steps we are putting in place.