Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry about that. The telephone and Internet has been cutting out all day, whatever is wrong here in the Oireachtas.

I will be very brief. From listening to Mr. White, I can hear the frustration he is going through. We produced a report and were told certain things were going to happen.

Nothing has happened, and this is not good enough. As the speaker said, it is time for elected representatives in the Oireachtas to bring the officials and the Minister of State before the committee. She has a responsibility as well, and not to come in to say one thing to the committee with nothing else happening down the line. There is a serious problem in the forestry sector. We identified that. I compliment you, Chairman, because you identified this very early. We have had a number of meetings. We have brought officials and assistant secretaries before the committee, so it is time the Minister of State, the Secretary General and assistant secretary were brought before the committee to see what is going to be done about an industry that is on its knees because the Department is not doing its job.

The time has come for them to do their job. We have them dictating to us about climate change. The only thing they are any good at is imposing carbon tax and imposing tax on fuel and on people's energy and everything else. However, when it comes to them doing whatever they have to do, they are not able to do it. If they are not able to do it in the forestry section in the Department, close it down, put it out to the private sector and let the private sector deal with it. What is happening is not good enough. I have listened to people in my constituency. They are frustrated, annoyed and angry at what is happening. It is time to bring the Minister of State and the Secretary General before the committee to see what is happening in that Department.