Mr. Colm Hayes:

I do not want to get into a Coillte versus private debate and I am not a spokesperson for Coillte but it is important that facts are introduced to the discussion. The breakdown last year in private licensing volume was 52% Coillte and 48% private. This year to date it is 58% Coillte and 42% private. On the basis that, as I understand, Coillte supplies 75% of processing timber for the mills, I do not think that could be described as favouritism towards it. It is short-sighted to engage in comparison between two sectors. Coillte is not an international conglomerate; it is an Irish company that supports Irish jobs and harvests Irish timber for processing in Irish mills. Every licence is valuable and in our role as regulator, we will drive out every licence we can, assuming it is correct and in the condition it should be. Every licence has value to the rural economy and it is important that is done.

On the climate question, in simple terms, Ireland's forestry estate is and will remain a net sink for carbon dioxide up to 2050. We outlined this recently in our national forest accounting plan. Beyond 2050, we have some detailed modelling projections and work to do. There may be some older forests that will be a small net source of emissions up to about 2025, after harvested wood products are stripped out. That is in our forestry accounting plan. Projections indicate the forestry estate remains a net sink. It has no bearing on our licensing regime. It is important the national forestry estate is well managed but we would never bring to bear on any licence application any consideration of the national forest accounting plan. I draw clear blue water between those two issues.

The Deputy asked a detailed question on the Coillte applications and I think Mr. Dunne can shed some light on that.